Greek coastguards fired on a Turkish ship carrying cargo near the island of Lesbos. According to Greece, the ship in question was following a route across the Aegean Sea known for its use by illegal migrants entering Europe. For this reason, Greek authorities regularly surveil and ask to inspect vessels in the area.
Greece has reported that warning shots were fired, and that Turkish authorities were notified. The ships, which refused to be inspected, were escorted back to their country’s national waters.
Turkish sources, for their part, maintain that the ship was sailing in international waters when it suffered harassment from the Greek coastguard. This comes in the context of escalating tension between the two countries, including a recent skirmish between fighter jets.
