Turkey says it has rescued about 120 migrants in Aegean Sea

Turkish authorities have claimed to have rescued about 120 migrants in the Aegean Sea and have again accused Greece of having expelled the boats in which they were traveling from its territorial waters.

The Coast Guard has indicated that 45 migrants have been rescued in three boats located off the coast of Marmaris, while 73 others have been rescued off the province of Mugla.

Security forces have also arrested three suspected members of a human smuggling gang, including one who was traveling on one of the intercepted boats, Turkish state news agency Anatolia reported.

Turkey has charged harshly against Greece in recent years and accuses Athens of illegally expelling vessels arriving in its waters from Turkish shores.

Tension has increased over the past few months in the eastern Mediterranean area as Greece and Turkey embark on a maritime dispute over hydrocarbon exploration in the area. The two countries are also at loggerheads over Cyprus.