A Cypriot-Egyptian War?

In 1978, a group of assassins attacked an Arab delegation in Nicosia, Cyprus, during which Youssef Sebai, a prominent friend of Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, was killed. The assassins proceeded to round up 16 members of the delegation and take them to Larnaca International Airport, where they unsuccessfully attempted to fly out of Cyprus.

Due to the murder of his friend, Sadat took a personal interest in the incident and ordered Egyptian commandos to Cyprus. Eventually, during the Cypriot negotiations with the hijackers, the Egyptian commandos moved to assault the plane. The Cypriot National Guard, unaware of the commandos' intent, ended up exchanging protracted weapons fire with them, which led to the near-complete destruction of the Egyptian force.

In OTL, Egypt and Cyprus severed diplomatic ties for some years due to the incident. What could make the incident have more far-reaching consequences, and could Cyprus and Egypt even go to war over it? If the issue does indeed explode into open warfare, how would the fighting proceed? IIRC (vaguely) Cyprus and the UK have a defensive agreement, so how would the UK get involved, if they do?
 

Rockingham

Banned
In 1978, a group of assassins attacked an Arab delegation in Nicosia, Cyprus, during which Youssef Sebai, a prominent friend of Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, was killed. The assassins proceeded to round up 16 members of the delegation and take them to Larnaca International Airport, where they unsuccessfully attempted to fly out of Cyprus.

Due to the murder of his friend, Sadat took a personal interest in the incident and ordered Egyptian commandos to Cyprus. Eventually, during the Cypriot negotiations with the hijackers, the Egyptian commandos moved to assault the plane. The Cypriot National Guard, unaware of the commandos' intent, ended up exchanging protracted weapons fire with them, which led to the near-complete destruction of the Egyptian force.

In OTL, Egypt and Cyprus severed diplomatic ties for some years due to the incident. What could make the incident have more far-reaching consequences, and could Cyprus and Egypt even go to war over it? If the issue does indeed explode into open warfare, how would the fighting proceed? IIRC (vaguely) Cyprus and the UK have a defensive agreement, so how would the UK get involved, if they do?
It would be nothing more then a misunderstanding if it did occur....I'm thinking, unless Israel gets scared and does something stupid, both parties both realise the idiocy of the incident and request peace.....might surpass the Zanzibari war in terms of shortness.
 
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