Turkish authorities announced on Monday that they had rescued 116 irregular migrants who were reportedly pushed back into Turkish waters by Greek authorities. The Turkish Coast Guard carried out several rescue operations off the western coast of Türkiye, highlighting ongoing tensions between Türkiye and Greece over migration issues.
In the Karaburun district of Izmir province, the Coast Guard rescued 35 migrants from a rubber boat, including one child. In a separate operation in the same area, 44 migrants were saved, five of whom were children. Additionally, 37 more migrants, including 19 children, were rescued off the coast of the Dalaman district in Mugla province.
The Turkish Coast Guard Command stated that all the rescued migrants had been forcibly returned to Turkish waters by Greek coastal authorities. Türkiye has long been a key transit point for asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, especially those escaping war and persecution. The Turkish government and international human rights organizations have repeatedly criticized Greece’s pushback practices, calling them violations of humanitarian values and international law.
This rescue operation shows the ongoing friction between Türkiye and Greece regarding the management of migrants in the Aegean Sea. It also reflects the broader challenges faced by countries dealing with irregular migration in the region, highlighting the need for improved cooperation and humane treatment of migrants.