Greece Claims Migrant Surge Tied to Middle East Conflicts as over 100 Illegals Detained



by Breitbart London 18 Feb 2025

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Authorities in Greece said Tuesday they detained 107 migrants in two separate operations near the island of Crete, as an official attributed an increase in people trying to cross the eastern Mediterranean to conflicts in the Middle East.

A cargo ship assisted in the rescue of 42 male migrants from a boat in distress that was abandoned and later broke up after hitting rocks, according to the coast guard and officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs.

Survivors later told authorities they had departed from the Libyan port of Tobruk. Authorities arrested two men on smuggling charges.

In the second incident, 65 migrants were found on the island of Gavdos south of Crete. One man required medical assistance and was taken to a nearby hospital.

Speaking in parliament, the deputy minister of maritime affairs, Stefanos Gikas, said authorities have been dealing with a surge in illegal migration since late 2023. Government officials have attributed it to conflicts in the Middle East.

Gikas said 47,267 people entered Greece illegally in 2024, while 625 people were arrested on smuggling charges.



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Europe Migrant Crisis 2.0 Warnings Grow Following the Fall of Assad Regime in Syria



breitbart.com
Europe Migrant Crisis 2.0 Warnings After Fall of Assad in Syria
There are growing warnings that the instability in Syria may lead to a repeat of the migrant crisis that destabalised Europe.

6:27 AM · Dec 9, 2024

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2025/02/18/greece-claims-migrant-surge-tied-to-middle-east-conflicts-as-over-100-illegals-detained/