Turkey rescues 65 asylum seekers pushed back by Greece

Turkey rescued 65 asylum seekers early Tuesday who were illegally pushed back by Greece into Turkish waters in the Aegean Sea.

Some 30 asylum seekers who were in a rubber boat were taken ashore near Cesme district of Izmir province, the Turkish Coast Guard Command said in a statement.

Thirty-five irregular migrants were also rescued from a rubber boat off Menderes district of Izmir province.

All of the occupants were later taken to the provincial migration office.

Turkey has been a key transit point for asylum seekers aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

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