Turkish Coast Guard teams rescued 23 irregular migrants, including three children, off the coast of Ayvacık district in Çanakkale after they were reportedly pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek authorities.

According to a statement from the Turkish Coast Guard Command, the migrants — originating from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and Azerbaijan — were discovered adrift in a lifeboat on Thursday. They were safely brought ashore and transferred to the Ayvacık Migrant Reception and Transfer Center for registration and processing.

Ankara has repeatedly accused Greece of conducting illegal pushbacks of migrants in the Aegean Sea, calling the practice a violation of international law and fundamental human rights. The latest incident highlights the continuing tensions between the two neighbors over migration management and border security in the region. (ILKHA)