UPDATE - 111 irregular migrants held in western Türkiye

UPDATES NUMBER OF IRREGULAR MIGRANTS HELD, CHANGES HEADLINE, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Zeynep Celikkol

IZMIR, Türkiye (AA) - The Turkish Coast Guard Command on Wednesday held a total of 111 irregular migrants in the Aegean Sea off the country’s southwestern coast.

At first, Turkish teams rescued 44 irregular migrants found in a rubber boat off the coast of Izmir’s Dikili district. They were pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces.

Later, 67 migrants were found in a rubber boat off the coast of Izmir’s Seferihisar district.

They were moved to the provincial migration office, a statement by the coast guards said.

Türkiye has been a key transit point for migrants wanting to cross into Europe to start new lives.

Ankara and international rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law.