
Europe is on the brink of a new migrant crisis as Greece locked down its land and sea routes while Turkey pulled out of a long-standing deal to stop the country's 3.6 million refugees from travelling beyond its borders.

Hundreds of asylum seekers immediately began making their way towards Greece and Bulgaria – and, if they successfully cross the border, could carry on deeper into Europe.

Turkey’s neighbours responded by reinforcing their frontiers. Greece said it was locking down land and sea routes ‘to the maximum level possible’, while Bulgaria deployed 1,000 troops and military hardware to its 190-mile border with Turkey.

One of the first stand-offs came at Pazarkule in north-east Greece, where police used smoke grenades as dozens of migrants, including Syrians, Iranians, Iraqis, Pakistanis and Moroccans gathered.

On Turkey’s Aegean coast, local TV showed two dozen people, including women and children, aboard a rubber dinghy bound for the Greek island of Lesbos.

Ankara’s move was triggered by the deaths of 33 Turkish soldiers in assaults by Russian-backed troops in Syria’s Idlib province.

Desperate scenes unfolded on Friday at a border crossing near the Turkish city of Edirne after Turkish police and border guards were ordered to stand aside and allow hundreds of people through

A photo taken from Turkey's Edirne province shows irregular migrants at Pazarkule Border Gate trying to enter Greek side to reach Europe, at Turkey's border with Greece in Edirne, Turkey on February 28

Hundreds of asylum seekers immediately began making their way towards Greece and Bulgaria – and, if they successfully cross the border, could carry on deeper into Europe

Greek border police send away irregular migrants who cut the barbed wire and try to enter Greek side at Turkey's border with Greece in Edirne, Turkey on February 28

Migrants set fire to keep themselves warm while waiting at Turkey's border with Greece near Pazarkule Customs Gate in Edirne, Turkey on February 28

Turkey, which is already home to around 3.6 million Syrian refugees, is threatening to unleash a fresh migration crisis on Europe in an attempt to pressure European countries to come to its aid in Syria - where it is trying to prevent a Russian-backed government offensive in Idlib province

The country’s civil war has worsened dramatically in recent months despite largely vanishing from the agenda of Western countries. A million civilians have been displaced since December near the Turkish border.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to force European leaders into backing Turkey’s military campaign in the country.

He has threatened to renege on the refugee deal in previous spats with the West – but this is the first time Turkey has actually lowered its border controls.

It signed the EU agreement in 2016 in exchange for £5.1billion in funding. But four million asylum seekers who fled to Turkey from Syria, Afghanistan and other war-torn nations are now ‘welcome’ to cross into the EU.

A spokesman said: ‘Now these migrants are not just Turkey’s problem, but Europe’s and the world’s as well. Every actor needs to do what it must.’

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said Turkish officials had not formally notified Brussels of any change to the pact. But the prospect of a new migrant exodus caused alarm in EU countries already on coronavirus alert.

Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: ‘I want to be clear: no illegal entries into Greece will be tolerated.’

But within hours of the announcement, hundreds of migrants were heading for the border. Refugees, some carrying small children and carrier bags, trekked along roads out of Istanbul and through fields, in scenes reminiscent of the 2015 crisis.

Migrants walk towards Greece border after they get out from train coming from Istanbul, along the Turkey-Greece border near Pazarkule, in Edirne district, on February 28

Hundreds of migrants trying to get from Turkey into Greece were met with tear gas and a wall of border guards on Friday after Turkey stood aside and allowed them to try and cross

A woman screams as Greek border guards use tear gas to disperse hundreds of irregular migrants waiting at Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing with Greece in Edirne, Turkey

Turkish border guards stood aside Friday morning in Edirne and allowed migrants to rush the Greek side of the border, where they were met with tear gas

Muhammed Abdullah, a 25-year-old Syrian, said: ‘Turkey is not nice at all. Europe is nicer.’

Desperate scenes unfolded on Friday at a border crossing near the Turkish city of Edirne after Turkish police and border guards were ordered to stand aside and allow hundreds of people through.

That prompted a crowd of hundreds to rush the Greek side of the crossing, which was quickly blocked by Greek guards who fired tear gas to keep them back.

Greece and Turkey share a natural river border close to Erdine - highlighting the location's strategic significance - but Turkish territory expands slightly west of the partition, with a border fence on Greece's side.

Turkey, which is already home to around 3.6 million Syrian refugees, is threatening to unleash a fresh migration crisis on Europe in an attempt to pressure European countries to come to its aid in Syria - where it is trying to prevent a Russian-backed government offensive in Idlib province.

Thirty three Turkish soldiers were killed in the region on Thursday night after a Syrian government airstrike hit their position - the largest single-day loss of life by Turkish forces since they first became involved in the conflict in 2016.

The UK, US and NATO - of which Turkey is a member - subsequently condemned the Syrian government offensive and called for it to end, but did not pledge any concrete support.

On Friday one Turkish soldier was killed and another wounded in fresh artillery fire by the regime in northern Syria, the defence ministry said, a day after the killing of 33 troops.

Turkey said it would no longer prevent migrants from crossing into Europe as it attempted to pressure countries to involve themselves in Syria, where it is trying to stop a government offensive in Idlib

Turkey fears the Syrian government attack in Idlib will prompt another migrant crisis on its soil, as the region is home to 4million people - almost half of whom are living in tent cities up against the Turkish border

Greek Prime Minister said that his country will increase border security to prevent any crossings, saying that Greeks were not involved in Syria and do not bear any responsibility for the effects of the crisis

A migrant climbs barbed-wire on Turkey's border with Greece in Edirne, Turkey on February 28. Desperate scenes unfolded on Friday at a border crossing near the Turkish city of Edirne after Turkish police and border guards were ordered to stand aside and allow hundreds of people through

Greek border security guards stand in front of refugees from Turkey at the Greek Turkish border on February 28

Turkey 'keeps on hitting regime targets' in the Idlib region in retaliation, the ministry said on Twitter.

Thirty-three Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Russian-backed Syrian regime forces in the northwestern province of Idlib on Thursday - the biggest Turkish military loss on the battlefield in recent years.

Syrian regime forces backed by Russian air strikes have since December clawed back chunks of the Idlib region, forcing close to a million people to flee their homes and shelters amid bitter cold.

Turkey fears that the new offensive will spark a fresh refugee crisis. Idlib is home to some 4million people, almost half of whom have fled there after fighting elsewhere in the country.

Many of them are living in ramshackle tent cities up against the Turkish border fence which are now being targeted by the Syrian regime. Assad's forces launched the attack to recapture the region from rebel groups.

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has said the country will not tolerate the illegal entry of migrants through its borders and will increase its border security.

Irregular migrants, who want to get to Europe through Greece, arrive in coastal, border at Ayvacik district of Canakkale, Turkey on February 28

NGO members help 15 Afghan refugees - five children, three women and seven men - to disembark from a dinghy as it lands ashore the Greek island of Lesbos on February 28

A Greek soldier flies a drone to spot migrants and refugees crossing from Turkey into Greece, near the village of Marasia, Greece, February 28

A person holds a child over the crowd as migrants struggle to board a bus to go to the Greek border, in Istanbul, Turkey, on February 28

Refugees coming from Turkey walk through the Greek border as they try to cross Greek and Turkish border on February 28, in Edirne, Turkey

Greek Army patrol in Marasia village at the Greek-Turkish border as he tries to prevent migrants entering Greece, February 28

Migrants struggle to board a bus to go to the Greek border, in Istanbul, Turkey, on February 28. Turkey will no longer close its border gates to refugees who want to go to Europe, a senior official said

Refugees coming from Turkey walk through the Greek border as they try to cross the Greek Turkish border on February 28, in Edirne, Turkey

Migrants climb barbed-wire on Turkey's border with Greece in Edirne, Turkey on February 28. Near the Pazarkule border crossing with Greece, Turkish police stopped some 150 refugees about half a mile from the border, preventing them from going further

In a Tweet, Mitsotakis said Greece 'does not bear any responsibility for the tragic events in Syria and will not suffer the consequences of decisions taken by others.'

In the early hours of Friday, more migrants were pictured landing on the Greek island of Lesbos having arrived by boat over the Mediterranean.

Early Friday, Turkish broadcaster NTV showed images of dozens of people - carrying rucksacks, suitcases and plastic bags - crossing fields towards the Greek frontier.

Near the Pazarkule border crossing with Greece, Turkish police stopped some 150 refugees about 1 kilometer (half a mile) from the border, preventing them from going further.

A Greek police official said dozens of people had gathered on the Turkish side of the land border in Greece's Evros region, shouting 'open the borders.' Police and military border patrols on the Greek side readied to prevent people crossing without authorization.

Migrants who have been living in Turkey after the country agreed to block them from coming to Europe in 2016 head to the border after Ankara threatened to tear up the agreement

A woman carries a suitcase as she makes her way through the countryside on her way to the Turkish border crossing

Syrian refugees board a bus as they head to border villages of Edirne province, in Istanbul

Millions of people have been displaced by the Syrian civil war, and thousands of them have ended up in Turkey - with the country now threatening to allow them into Europe

Men cover their faces in an attempt to protect themselves against tear gas after Greek border guards used it to dispel crowds that were gathered at the border

Refugees walk near fences on the Greek border as they try to enter Europe, in Edirne, Turkey

The clashes happened near Edirne, a Turkish city that sits along the border with Greece. Migrant crossings between western Turkey and the Greek island of Lesbos were also pictured taking place early Friday

Britain on Friday condemned the Damascus regime and Russia for waging a 'reckless and brutal' assault in the battleground Syrian province of Idlib, where the 33 died.

Thursday's attack 'only confirmed the reckless and brutal nature of the offensive which the Syrian regime and Russia are conducting in Idlib,' Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said, adding that London will push for tighter sanctions against Damascus.

Greek police used smoke grenades at one border crossing, while Bulgaria sent an extra 1,000 troops to its border with Turkey.

Police, coastguard and border security officials have been instructed to stand down and allow people access to European borders by land and sea, the official added.

Turkey appears to be trying to pressure European leaders to intervene and help its military halt a Syrian government offensive in Idlib province.

On Friday, NATO held talks on the situation in Syria at Turkey's request - offering solidarity and support, but no new measures to curb the violence.

'NATO allies provide support for Turkey today. We augment their air defences, we have an AWACS plane helping to patrol the skies and we also have port visits and provide support in other ways,' leader Jens Stoltenberg said.

'But allies are constantly looking into what more they can do to provide further support for Turkey.'

Turkey will no longer stop refugees crossing its territory towards Europe after 33 of its soldiers were killed in a Syrian government airstrike overnight, an official has said

Groups of migrants were pictured making their way through Edime, in western Turkey, towards the borders with Bulgaria and Greece early on Friday

Hundreds of refugees were pictured crossing Turkey on the way to Greece and Bulgaria overnight Thursday and Friday morning

Police, border officials and coastguard have all been instructed to stand aside and allow refugees to cross the country towards Europe

A man carrying a child makes his way across Turkey towards border crossings with Greece and Bulgaria on Friday morning

A spokesman for the Turkish presidency earlier called for a no-fly zone to protect civilians in Idlib.

The Idlib offensive, which is being carried out with Russian backing, threatens to spark a refugee crisis on the Turkish border as millions of civilians risk being indiscriminately targeted in bombings and airstrikes.

Idlib is currently home to some four million people, many of them displaced by fighting elsewhere in the country and living in tent cities along Turkey's border.

Stoltenberg condemned both Russia and Damascus over the attacks, and urged them to end the violence.

Turkish media published images of hundreds of refugees crossing its territory on the way to Greece and Bulgaria overnight.

By Friday morning some of those had landed in boats on the Greek island of Lesbos, where they were put on to coaches and taken to camps on the island.

A group of 300 people - including Syrians, Iranians, Iraqis, Pakistanis and Moroccans - were pictured crossing Turkish territory.

Turkey struck an agreement with European leaders to halt the flow of migrants through its territory in 2016, but now appears ready to renege on that pledge

By Friday morning some of the refugees - including Iraqis, Afghanis, Syrians and Iranians - had landed on the Greek island of Lesbos

Turkey appears to be trying to pressure European leaders to intervene on its side as it tries to stop a Russian-backed Syrian government offensive in Idlib

A child cries as he arrives at the village of Skala Sikaminias, on the Greek island of Lesbos, after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey with other refugees

A dinghy with 15 Afghan refugees, 5 children, 3 women and 7 men, approaches the Greek island of Lesbos early Friday

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to open the gates for migrants to travel to Europe.

If it did so, it would reverse a pledge Turkey made to the European Union in 2016.

EU leaders said on Friday that they expect Turkey to uphold its commitments under the previous agreement.

Stotenberg said Friday's talks would be held under Article 4 of NATO's founding treaty, which allows any ally to request consultations if it feels its territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened.

The air strike by Syrian government forces marks the largest death toll for Turkey in a single day since it first intervened in Syria in 2016.

Turkish media was awash with pictures of refugees headed to the border on Friday, in an attempt to put pressure on European leaders

Refugees cross a river in Turkey as they make their way towards eastern Europe on Friday

Refugees making their way across a field towards Europe via Turkey on Friday

It's a major escalation in a conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian forces that has raged since early February.

At least 54 Turkish troops have now been killed in Idlib.

Apart from providing some aerial surveillance over Syria, NATO plays no direct role in the conflict-torn country, but its members are deeply divided over Turkey's actions.

Turkey's invasion of the north of the conflict-torn country - along with the criticism and threats of sanctions brandished by fellow allies at Ankara over the offensive - has come close to sparking a crisis at the military alliance.

France in particular has tried to launch debate on what Turkey's allies should do if Ankara requests their assistance under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty - which requires all allies to come to the defense of another member under attack.

That discussion has not happened.

The US has demanded that both Syria and Russia end their 'despicable' offensive in eastern Syria, but also wants no direct involvement.

33 Turkish soldiers were killed in a Syrian government airstrike in Idlib late Thursday, the largest one-day death toll for Turkish forces since they intervened in the region in 2016

Turkey-backed Syrian fighters ride a tank in the town of Saraqib in the eastern part of the Idlib province in northwestern Syria

Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar speaks to ground commanders about the situation in Idlib on Friday morning

Turkish backed rebel fighters fire a howitzer toward Syrian government's forces positions near the village of Neirab in Idlib province

In a statement a US representative said: 'We stand by our NATO ally Turkey and continue to call for an immediate end to this despicable offensive by the Assad regime, Russia and Iranian-backed forces,' a State Department spokesperson said.

'We are looking at options on how we can best support Turkey in this crisis.'

The United Nations also called for urgent action in the northwest of Syria.

Stephane Dujarric said: 'The Secretary-General reiterates his call for an immediate ceasefire and expresses particular concern about the risk to civilians from escalating military actions.

'Without urgent action, the risk of even greater escalation grows by the hour.'

Idlib is supposed to be a de-escalation zone in which acts of aggression are meant to be prohibited.

The zone is currently home to four million civilians, many had already been displaced by regime forces in the war torn country.

More than 1.7 million Syrians moved to the Turkish border due to intense attacks.

A wounded child is seen on a stretcher at a hospital for treatment after Assad regime attacks in residential area in Idlib

An internally displaced Syrian girl steps up the stairs in an IDP camp located in Idlib

Internally displaced Syrians are seen in an IDP camp located in Idlib earlier today