Turkish Coast Guard units in Aydin province rescued dozens of irregular migrants who were illegally pushed back into Türkiye’s territorial waters by Greek authorities.

The units received a tipoff on the struggle of irregular migrants in a rubber boat off the coast of Tekeagac and rushed to their assistance, eventually rescuing all 28 of them.

They were referred to the provincial migration office for due process.

One of the migrants reportedly gave birth on the boat. The mother and her baby were taken to a health facility for a health check.

Türkiye and international human rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece's illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable people, including women and children.

Türkiye has been a key transit point for irregular migrants who want to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution in their countries.

It already hosts 4 million refugees, more than any other country in the world, and is taking new security measures on its borders to humanely prevent a fresh influx of migrants./aa