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Despite Turkish appeals, Britain declined to intervene, prioritizing its military bases on the island over taking sides in the growing conflict. This failure to act led Turkey to invade Cyprus with military action aimed at protecting the Turkish Cypriots. The rapid invasion pushed Greek Cypriot forces back, leading to a realignment of control over the island.
The international response was critical, especially from the United States, which was concerned about the implications of conflict between two NATO allies. However, Turkey's actions eventually led to widespread international condemnation. The coup in Greece led to political turmoil, and as the military government collapsed, Turkey pressed its advantage by advancing further into Cyprus.