The Turkish government has announced that it will no longer stop migrants from attempting to cross by land or sea into Greece.

The move reneges on a 2016 deal, struck with the European Union, to halt migrants traveling from the Middle East toward Europe. Turkey says it has "reached its capacity."

There are now thousands of people gathered at the Turkey-Greece border, clinging to the hope that they will be able to cross into Europe. Some have already tried to cross over. Greece has kept its side of the border closed, however, and beefed up its presence there. There have been clashes between migrant youths and Greek border guards.

Turkey's reversal on its deal with the EU is seen as a way of leveraging European support for its military operation in Syria. The about-face came on the back of an airstrike that killed 33 Turkish soldiers in Idlib, Syria.

Police on the Greek island of Lesbos detain a youth during clashes near the Moria refugee camp on March 2.
Police on the Greek island of Lesbos detain a youth during clashes near the Moria refugee camp on March 2.
Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images
A man holds his three sons as migrants arrive on a dinghy March 2 near the Greek village of Skala Sikamias. They had crossed from Turkey to the island of Lesbos.
A man holds his three sons as migrants arrive on a dinghy March 2 near the Greek village of Skala Sikamias. They had crossed from Turkey to the island of Lesbos.
Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters
Migrants look on as police block a road near the Moria refugee camp.
Migrants look on as police block a road near the Moria refugee camp.
Alexandros Michailidis/AP
A soldier passes a Greek army vehicle with a damaged windshield at the Greek border near Kastanies on March 2.
A soldier passes a Greek army vehicle with a damaged windshield at the Greek border near Kastanies on March 2.
Sakis Mitrolidis/AFP/Getty Images
Migrants wait to attempt a crossing of the Maritsa river, near Edirne, Turkey, on March 2.
Migrants wait to attempt a crossing of the Maritsa river, near Edirne, Turkey, on March 2.
Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images
An inflatable boat carrying migrants is met by residents attempting to prevent them from landing on the Greek island of Lesbos on Sunday, March 1.
An inflatable boat carrying migrants is met by residents attempting to prevent them from landing on the Greek island of Lesbos on Sunday, March 1.
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images
Migrants walk toward the Greek border near Pazarkule, Turkey, on March 1.
Migrants walk toward the Greek border near Pazarkule, Turkey, on March 1.
Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images
Migrants are rescued from the Evros river after trying to cross from Turkey into Greece on March 1.
Migrants are rescued from the Evros river after trying to cross from Turkey into Greece on March 1.
Burak Kara/Getty Images
A migrant carries his belongings as he walks toward the Maritsa river to attempt to cross to the Greek side.
A migrant carries his belongings as he walks toward the Maritsa river to attempt to cross to the Greek side.
Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images
People in Pazarkule gather inside a buffer zone at the border on Saturday, February 29.
People in Pazarkule gather inside a buffer zone at the border on Saturday, February 29.
Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images
A dinghy transporting migrants lands in Lesbos after they were escorted by a war ship during their crossing between Turkey and Greece on February 29.
A dinghy transporting migrants lands in Lesbos after they were escorted by a war ship during their crossing between Turkey and Greece on February 29.
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images
A man rests after surviving the crossing between Turkey and Greece on February 29.
A man rests after surviving the crossing between Turkey and Greece on February 29.
Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis leads a meeting on the migration crisis on February 29.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis leads a meeting on the migration crisis on February 29.
Dimitris Papamitsos/AP
A migrant gestures as Greek police officers use tear gas at the Pazarkule crossing on February 29.
A migrant gestures as Greek police officers use tear gas at the Pazarkule crossing on February 29.
Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images
After arriving in the Greek village of Skala Sikaminias, a migrant cries as she tries to warm herself.
After arriving in the Greek village of Skala Sikaminias, a migrant cries as she tries to warm herself.
Michael Varaklas/AP
A Greek soldier carries razor-wire fencing at the Kastanies border gate on February 29.
A Greek soldier carries razor-wire fencing at the Kastanies border gate on February 29.
Giannis Papanikos/AP
A migrant passes the buffer zone during clashes with Greek police at the Pazarkule crossing on February 29.
A migrant passes the buffer zone during clashes with Greek police at the Pazarkule crossing on February 29.
Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images
Migrants struggle to board a bus in Istanbul, bound for the Greek border, on Friday, February 28.
Migrants struggle to board a bus in Istanbul, bound for the Greek border, on Friday, February 28.
Omer Kuscu/AP