Nearly 600 irregular migrants held across Turkey

Turkish security forces held 597 irregular migrants during nationwide operations on Monday, according to military sources.

Gendarmerie and border military units held 497 irregular migrants in northwestern Turkish province of Edirne, the sources said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

The migrants were from Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Palestine, Algeria, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Bangladesh, the sources added.

The migrants were sent to the provincial immigration office.

Meanwhile, Turkish gendarmeries held 40 irregular migrants of Afghan national were held in the eastern province of Van.

In a separate operation, 29 irregular migrants were held in northwestern province of Çanakkale.

The security forces held the migrants -- all Afghan nationals --, including women and children, who were planning to cross to the Greek island of Lesbos.

These migrants were sent to immigration authority, while the van driver was arrested over human trafficking.

A total of 31 Syrian migrants illegally crossing into Turkey were held in bordering Hatay province.

Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross to Europe, especially since 2011, the beginning of Syria's civil war.