Turkish coastguard rescues boat attacked by Greek forces
Greece opened fire at a boat carrying civilians off the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea, said the Turkish Coast Guard Command on Tuesday. In a statement, the command said two Turkish and one Syrian nationals were injured and the boat sank due to the attack.
- World
- DPA
- Published Date: 02:30 | 11 August 2020
- Modified Date: 02:40 | 11 August 2020
The Turkish coastguard said it rescued three people on board a privately-owned boat off the Greek island of Rhodes on Tuesday after the vessel was attacked by Greek forces.
The two Turkish nationals and one Syrian on board were injured, the coastguard said, adding one of the Turkish citizens was "critically wounded" but offering few other details on the incident.
The coastguard also added that the attack took place 0040GMT in the Greek waters, 7.2 nautical miles from Turkey's Muğla province.
Four boats and one diving team were dispatched to the scene, Turkey said, adding that the wounded were hospitalized in the Aegean town of Marmaris and that the boat sank while being towed.
Prosecutors in Marmaris have launched an investigation, the coastguard said.
Tensions in the region are on the rise due to the exploration and drilling activities of the hydrocarbon sources in the Mediterranean Sea.
Ankara accuses Greece of pursuing maximalist policies in the Eastern Mediterranean and underlines that its maritime claims violate Turkey's sovereign rights.