Two U.S. Marines Attacked by Turkish Nationalists in Izmir, Turkey

Two US Marines were ambushed and assaulted by Turkish nationalists in Izmir, Turkey.

The incident, which resulted in the arrest of 15 people, occurred while Marines from the USS Wasp were walking in civilian clothes in the city’s Konak district on Monday.

The attack was carried out by members of the Youth Union of Turkey (TGB), a nationalist organization affiliated with the Vatan Party. In a video posted online, the attackers can be seen restraining one of the Marines and placing a plastic bag over his head while chanting “Yankee, go home!” The video shows the Marines struggling as the mob, motivated by anti-American sentiment, taunts them.

The TGB later issued a statement justifying the assault, claiming it was a response to US foreign policies, particularly in relation to Israel and Palestine.

“U.S. soldiers who carry the blood of our soldiers and thousands of Palestinians on their hands cannot defile our country,” the group stated.

They vowed to continue confronting American military personnel whenever they set foot on Turkish soil.

The US Embassy in Turkey confirmed the incident and assured that the Marines involved were unharmed and safely returned to their ship.

“We can confirm reports that US service members embarked aboard the USS Wasp were the victims of an assault in Izmir today and are now safe,” the embassy announced on social media.

The attack has raised concerns about the safety of US military personnel in Turkey, particularly given the strained relationship between the two countries. Although Turkey and the United States are NATO allies, tensions have risen in recent years as a result of disagreements over US support for Syrian Kurds, Turkey’s purchase of Russian defense systems, and opposing viewpoints on the Gaza conflict.

The incident is similar to one that occurred in 2014, when members of the same group assaulted US sailors in Istanbul, placing bags over their heads. The symbolism of the bag is thought to refer to a 2003 incident in Iraq in which US forces detained Turkish soldiers and placed hoods over their heads, causing outrage in Turkey.

The attack has been condemned by both US and Turkish authorities.

 

“We are troubled by this assault on US service members and are grateful that Turkish police are taking this matter seriously and holding those responsible accountable,” said The White House.

The Turkish police are working with the US Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) on the ongoing investigation. All 15 people involved in the attack have been detained, and authorities are investigating whether additional measures are required to protect US personnel stationed in Turkey.

FOX News, Reuters, the Washington Post contributed to this report.