Ankara, – The Turkish authorities have deported 33 Syrian nationals attempting to enter the country illegally, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Thursday.
The group, including a number of women, entered a prohibited military zone near the Turkish-Syrian border in Turkey’s southern Hatay province, the report said, citing security sources.
The 33 illegal immigrants were later deported out of Turkey following legal procedures.
In recent times, Turkey has boost security measures, including the construction 911-kilometre wall along its border with Syria, to prevent illegal crossings.
Turkey shares its longest common border with Syria; various geographic and historical links also tie the two neighbouring countries together.
The Syrian civil war has strained relations between the two countries, leading to the suspension of diplomatic contact.
Diplomatic relations between the countries were severed in March 2012, due to the Syrian civil war.
According to the latest UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Global Trends report released earlier this week, Turkey is host the most of the Syrian refugees in the world; 2.9 million at the end of 2016.(Xinhua/NAN)