The Turkish Coast Guard has rescued 45 irregular migrants, including women and children, who were pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek elements in five separate incidents.

Acting on reports of a group of migrants in life rafts stranded off the coast of Izmir, Coast Guard boats swiftly reached the scene. They rescued the 45 individuals, who had been pushed back by Greek forces, and brought them safely ashore.

Coast Guard units also detected and apprehended 131 irregular migrants during operations off the coasts of Çeşme, Seferihisar, Dikili districts of Izmir, and Didim district of Aydın.

Following standard procedures, all the rescued and apprehended migrants were transferred to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management for further processing and assistance.

The Aegean Sea has become a flashpoint in the ongoing migration crisis, with Greece and Turkey holding divergent views on how to handle the influx of irregular migrants. Incidents of pushbacks, where one country forces migrants back into the territory of another, have raised concerns about human rights violations and endangerment of life.

The Turkish Coast Guard continues to prioritize the safety and well-being of migrants at sea. Their prompt response and rescue efforts in these recent incidents demonstrate their commitment to upholding humanitarian principles. (ILKHA)