CANAKKALE, Turkey

Turkish Coast Guard boats rescued 62 asylum seekers pushed by Greek forces into Turkish territorial waters on Thursday.

Security sources who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media said the asylum seekers were rescued in the Aegean Sea off Turkey's northwestern Deveboynu district of Canakkale province.

Turkey has been one of the main routes for asylum seekers wanting to reach Europe, especially since Syria’s 2011 civil war.

It hosts nearly four million Syrians, more than any other country in the world.

*Writing by Fahri Aksut