Here's the breakdown:
* The Setting: The play opens with a tense atmosphere. The Duke and senators are gathered to discuss the imminent threat posed by the Turkish fleet, which is poised to attack Cyprus.
* The Stakes: The invasion could lead to the loss of Cyprus, a strategically important island for Venice.
* The Solution: The Duke sends Othello, a highly skilled general, to Cyprus with a Venetian army to defend the island.
The impending crisis sets the stage for the play's main conflict, which unfolds through Othello's jealousy and the machinations of Iago.