Turkey rescues 9 asylum seekers off SW Turkey

By Ferdi Uzun

AYDIN, Turkey (AA) - The Turkish Coast Guard rescued nine asylum seekers in the Aegean Sea pushed back by Greece, Turkish security sources announced on Tuesday.

A boat carrying nine Syrian nationals, including three children, was pushed back towards Turkey by the Greek Coast Guard off the coast of Aydin in southwest Turkey, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Turkey has been a main route for asylum seekers trying to reach Europe, especially since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011.

Turkey currently hosts over 3.7 million Syrians, making it the world's top refugee-hosting country.

*Writing by Burak Dag in Ankara