Turkish Coast Guard Command said on its website that coast guard teams were dispatched to the area to rescue 31 migrants off Datça district in Muğla province from a rubber boat.

In a separate operation, another Turkish Coast Guard team was dispatched off the coast of Kuşadası in western Aydın province and rescued at least 87 asylum seekers. 

According to the statement, the boats carrying irregular migrants were pushed back to Turkish territorial waters by Greek Coast Guard forces.

Historically, Turkey has been a country of origin, transit, and destination for migrants and was a crossroads between Europe and Asia.

Recent regional events have contributed to Turkey increasingly becoming a major destination and transit country for those fleeing conflict, poverty, and disasters.

Turkey hosts one of the largest migrant and refugee populations in the world. 

According to the official reports, 113,865 irregular migrants held across the country in 2020. (ILKHA)