AYDIN, Turkey

Turkey on Tuesday rescued 100 asylum seekers in the Aegean Sea after they were illegally pushed back by Greek authorities into Turkish territorial waters, a security source said on Tuesday.

The Turkish Coast Guard was dispatched to the coast of Didim in western Aydin province to rescue 51 asylum seekers from a rubber boat, said the source who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Separately, some 49 asylum seekers were rescued off the coast of the Kusadasi district in Aydin.

The asylum seekers were referred to the provincial migration office.

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

The country hosts nearly 4 million Syrian refugees, more than any other country in the world. ​​​​​​​