According to a statement from the Turkish Coast Guard Command, the boat carrying 19 irregular migrants was pushed back to Turkish territorial waters by Greek Coast Guard forces.

The Turkish Coast Guard has been actively patrolling the Aegean Sea in recent months in response to the increasing number of irregular migrants trying to cross from Türkiye to Greece. The Coast Guard has rescued thousands of irregular migrants and apprehended thousands more.

The Turkish government has repeatedly condemned Greece's practice of pushing back irregular migrants into Turkish waters. The government says that this practice is illegal and that it puts the lives of the migrants at risk.

The rescued migrants were taken to the Dikili district migration office for further processing. (ILKHA)