About 36 asylum seekers of different nationalities including women and children were rescued on Monday by Turkey when the Greek Coast Guards pushed them back into Turkish territorial waters.
According to a security source who spoke on condition of anonymity, the asylum seekers were detected with a drone owned by the Turkish Coast Guard who rescued them and brought them back to the shore.
As part of Turkish rescue operations, the asylum seekers who started off from Ayvacik in Canakkale, northwestern Turkey and headed to the Greek island of Lesbos, were rescued off the Turkish territorial waters.
The asylum seekers were seen onboard rubber boats being pushed back to the Turkish territorial waters by the Greek Coast Guard.
“They were on board rubber boats that were pushed back by Greece Coast Guard,” said the source.
Upon reaching Turkey, Turkish officials provided the asylum seekers with food and clothes.
A number of asylum seekers including those fleeing war and persecution have been using Turkey as a major transit to cross to Europe with hope of starting a new life.
Being the world’s top country hosting refugees, Turkey now has about 3.7 million Syrians.
Meanwhile earlier this year Turkey accused EU for its failure to keep its promise under a 2016 migrant deal. As a result, Turkey opened its gates for migrants who wanted to cross to Europe through Turkey’s waters.
