Turkish Coast Guard successfully rescued 156 irregular migrants who had been forcibly pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek authorities.

The distressed migrants were reportedly stranded in life rafts off the coastlines of Aydın, Muğla, and İzmir.

Upon receiving information about the precarious situation, Coast Guard boats were swiftly dispatched to the specified regions to carry out the rescue mission. The migrants, victims of an apparent pushback by Greek forces, were safely brought ashore by the Turkish Coast Guard.

Additionally, in a separate operation near the coast of İzmir, 24 irregular migrants were apprehended. The circumstances surrounding their interception were not detailed in the available information.

Following the rescue operations, the irregular migrants were taken into custody and subsequently transferred to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management. Standard procedures will be carried out to manage their immigration status.

This incident once again highlights the complex and challenging nature of migration dynamics in the region, with tensions persisting between Turkey and Greece over the handling of irregular migrants attempting to cross the maritime border.

The Turkish Coast Guard continues to play a crucial role in responding to such humanitarian crises at sea. (ILKHA)