Türkiye rescues 166 migrants in territorial waters

By Anadolu Staff

MUGLA/IZMIR/CANAKKALE, Türkiye (AA) - Turkish Coast Guard units rescued 166 irregular migrants in three separate incidents, the Coast Guard Command said Thursday.

Some 102 migrants in life rafts and inflatable boats off the coast of Dikili, Karaburun and Cesme districts in Türkiye’s Izmir province were rescued after being pushed into Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces, said the coast guard in a statement.

Coast guard crews headed to the area after learning there was a group of migrants there, according to the statement. It was also noted that three smugglers were caught during the route to Italy in a sailboat.

In a separate incident, 26 irregular migrants were rescued off Bodrum district in Mugla province after being pushed back by the Greek Coast Guard.

Another 38 irregular migrants who were pushed into Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces off the coast of Ayvacik district in Canakkale province were rescued and two people attempting to illegally leave the country were detained.

A coast guard TCSG-84 boat was assigned to the region after learning about the migrants.

The foreign nationals who were brought ashore were transferred to the Ayvacik Foreigners Repatriation Center after the necessary procedures.

Türkiye and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.