Greece places Aegean on alert as concerns mount of Turkish provocations

The Aegean has been placed in a state of alert as Athens fears that Turkey may, under the guise of migrant search and rescue operations, instigate provocations on Greek islets.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued his incendiary rhetoric yesterday, saying that "one day [Greeks] may find themselves in a situation where they will have to seek compassion."

Responding to a question during a press briefing, government spokesman Stelios Petsas left open the possibility of sending refugees or migrants to uninhabited islands. "We are not ruling anything out," he said.

He also categorically denied claims by Turkish authorities that migrants trying to push across the border into Greece had been wounded or killed by Greek authorities, saying it is "fake news."

Tensions on Greece's land border with Turkey continued yesterday as clashes erupted...