The rescue operation was conducted on Saturday evening after the boat carrying the migrants ran into difficulty. All those on board were in good health, according to a report from the Greek coast guard.

The coast guard reported that the 90 rescued migrants were from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iraq and Egypt. Unconfirmed reports said the boat had started out from the Turkish coast.

Two men thought to be human traffickers have been detained. During the summer months, many sailing boats and yachts are out on the Aegean and Ionian seas, making it hard to distinguish boats operated by human traffickers carrying migrants from holidaymakers.

The rescue operation comes after the Turkish Coast Guard rescued 94 migrants in separate incidents last week, claiming these were a result of a number of illegal pushbacks by Greece.

The Turkish government-supporting Daily Sabah reported that 23 migrants were rescued after being pushed into Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces, off the coast of Dikili and Seferihisar in Turkey's western Izmir province.

The Turkish Coast Guard stated that it rescued another group of about 58 migrants off the coast of Kuşadası district in Türkiye's Aydın province, following further pushbacks from Greek border guards.

Also read: Greece: 3 dead, 12 missing in Aegean after migrant shipwreck

Greece accused of illegal pushbacks

Greece has repeatedly been accused of illegal pushbacks by rights groups, although the Greek government strongly denies these claims. Last year, the U.N.’s special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Felipe Gonzalez Morales, even described the country's pushbacks at its land and sea borders as "the de facto general policy.”

It is alleged that Greek border guards have been routinely taking migrants back to Turkey without giving them a chance to file an asylum claim contrary to international law.

Last month, a report published by The New York Times based on a video provided by an activist, depicted the Greek authorities abandoning migrants at sea.

After the report was released, Ylva Johansson, the EU home affairs commissioner, said that the EU has formally asked Athens to "fully and independently” investigate the incident.

Johansson referred to a meeting she held with the Greek government last year when she emphasized there was "no place for illegal deportations” and noted the European Commission was ready to take "formal steps, as appropriate," without elaborating what these steps would be.

An investigation by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) in 2022, showed that Greece has been deliberately and systematically cooperating with the EU's border agency Frontex in carrying out illegal pushbacks. Greece's National Transparency Authority (NTA) later stated it had found no evidence to support the allegations, following their own investigations into claims by OLAF.

Also read: Greece opens investigation into illegal deportations to Turkey

Moroccan migrant injured by gunfire while crossing Evros river

There have also been further incidents on the land border between Greece and Turkey, along the Evros river. Last Thursday, a Moroccan migrant was injured by gunfire while crossing from Turkey into Greece. He has since been hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries, Greek officials said.

A police statement said the 30-year-old man was found trying to cross the Evros river, in a small boat with two other men. He had a gunshot wound in the back, apparently inflicted by somebody on the Turkish side.

The boat reached the Greek side, where the man was taken to hospital. The other two were uninjured. Greek police said the Moroccan man told them he had been shot by the Turkish gendarmerie. But they added that they were examining every possibility as to who had fired at him from the Turkish side — including whether migrant-smugglers might have been involved.

The river, on Greece’s northeastern border with Turkey, is a major crossing point for people trying to enter Greece. Patrols along the Greek bank of the river have been intensified following a recent drop in the water level that makes migrant crossings easier.

Earlier this week, Greek officials held a series of high-level contacts with the newly elected Turkish government in an effort to counter a surge in attempted crossings.

Also read: Dozens of migrants found on Greek border river, as Turkey and Greece trade accusations

With AP and dpa