ANKARA

Turkish security forces on Monday released footage showing Greek coast guard units leaving asylum seekers stranded in the Aegean Sea.

It was seen in the footage that the asylum seekers were carried on a Greek Coast Guard boat to the east of Leros Island.

Then, they were transferred to a rubber boat one by one and left alone in the open sea.

The Turkish Coast Guard rescued the irregular migrants from their near-death experience.

Recent months have seen multiple reports of Greek forces illegally pushing back boats of asylum seekers, endangering the passengers in the process.

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

Turkey currently hosts over 3.7 million Syrians, making it the world's top refugee-hosting country.

*Writing by Havva Kara Aydin