The Larnaca Airport Incident: A Diplomatic Flashpoint (February 1978)

The morning of February 19, 1978, etched itself into the diplomatic history of the Middle East, primarily centered around a tragic and unauthorized military operation at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus. This dramatic confrontation arose from a complex and volatile chain of events.

A Preceding Tragedy: Assassination and Hostage-Taking

The prelude to the airport crisis began earlier in Nicosia, the Cypriot capital. Two assassins had brutally murdered Yusuf Sibai, a highly influential and prominent Egyptian newspaper editor and close confidant of then-President Anwar Sadat. Sibai had been attending an Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization convention. Following the assassination, the two perpetrators swiftly rounded up several Arab attendees from the convention, taking them hostage and transporting them to Larnaca International Airport, demanding safe passage.

The Unsanctioned Raid and its Deadly Aftermath

As Cypriot security forces at the airport engaged in delicate negotiations with the hostage-takers, working towards a peaceful resolution, events took an unforeseen and disastrous turn. Without any official authorization or coordination with the Cypriot government, a contingent of Egyptian special forces launched their own independent assault. This unilateral decision to storm the airport immediately escalated the already tense situation. The lack of communication and the unexpected nature of the Egyptian intervention tragically led to a deadly exchange of gunfire between the arriving Egyptian commandos and the Cypriot National Guard units already on site. The chaotic scene resulted in a devastating loss of life and injury, with more than 20 Egyptian soldiers either killed or wounded in the fratricidal conflict.

Severe Diplomatic Repercussions

The consequences of this botched operation were immediate and profound, creating a deep rift between the two nations. Cyprus, viewing the Egyptian special forces' actions as a severe violation of its sovereignty and a breach of international protocol, reacted with strong condemnation. As a direct result of the unauthorized raid and the tragic loss of life, Egypt and Cyprus severed diplomatic ties. This significant diplomatic freeze persisted for several years, highlighting the gravity of the incident and its lasting impact on regional relations.