Published: Less than 20 min ago
The Greek Coast Guard reportedly fired on a Turkish cargo ship in international waters in the Aegean Sea. That accusation is leveled at the Turkish coast guard at its Greek counterpart in a statement.
The shelling must have taken place roughly 20 kilometers south of the Turkish island of Bozcaada. According to the statement, no one was injured.
A video from Saturday released by the Turkish Coast Guard is said to show the incident, in which about a dozen gunshots are heard. The clip’s authenticity has not been confirmed.
The two neighbors have been embroiled in disputes for decades and relations have been particularly frosty in recent weeks, with both sides claiming the other is violating their airspace.
According to Turkey, Greece also violates international agreements by having a military presence on islands near the Turkish coast. Greece, on the other hand, believes it must be able to defend the islands – which are closer to Turkey than the Greek mainland – against its militarily stronger neighbour.
Following recent developments, Greek officials have expressed concern about another outbreak of conflict in Europe.