Turkish Coast Guard Command teams conducted two separate operations off the coast of Izmir, apprehending 21 migrants and rescuing 46 others in the Dikili and Çeşme districts, respectively.

In Dikili, authorities intercepted a fibre-hull rubber boat carrying 21 migrants attempting to illegally cross the border. The group was detained by Coast Guard teams during a patrol operation.

Meanwhile, in Çeşme, 46 migrants were rescued from a rubber dinghy that had been pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek authorities. Additional migrants stranded on Boğaz Island in the same district were also saved after requesting assistance.

All migrants underwent health checks and were subsequently transferred to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management Removal Centre for further processing.

The operations highlight ongoing efforts by Turkish authorities to manage irregular migration in the region amid tensions with neighboring Greece over maritime border policies. (ILKHA)