US Marines assaulted by nationalist group during Turkey port visit

Sep 03, 2024

Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

Two U.S. Marines from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp were assaulted Monday, Sept. 2, by members of a Turkish nationalist group while on shore leave in the city of Izmir. The attack occurred around 3:30 p.m. when the Marines, dressed in civilian clothes, were approached by 15 individuals affiliated with the Turkish Youth Union, a secular nationalist organization known for its strong anti-American sentiments.

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The assailants reportedly placed a bag over one Marine’s head while chanting, “Yankee, go home,” an act reminiscent of a 2014 incident in which the same group attacked U.S. sailors in Istanbul.

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The Turkish Youth Union has a history of such demonstrations, which it claims are in retaliation for a 2003 incident in Iraq where U.S. troops detained Turkish soldiers and placed hoods over their heads.

https://twitter.com/genclikbirligi/status/1830591940733153515

Local authorities responded swiftly, detaining all 15 individuals involved in the assault. The two Marines were unharmed but were taken to a local hospital as a precautionary measure before being released back to their ship, Cmdr. Timothy Gorman, a spokesman for U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, confirmed.

The USS Wasp, which arrived in Izmir on Sunday following joint exercises with the Turkish Navy, is part of a broader U.S. naval buildup in the eastern Mediterranean. This deployment aims to deter potential Iranian actions in response to recent escalations in the region.

https://twitter.com/USEmbassyTurkey/status/1830635020077130111

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara confirmed the incident in a social media post, expressing gratitude for the swift action taken by Turkish law enforcement. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and local police are cooperating in the ongoing investigation.

Tags: Marine Corps, Military Defense, Military Drills, Turkey, U.S. military

[KARAH RUCKER]

MORE THAN A DOZEN MEMBERS OF A TURKEY NATIONALIST GROUP ATTACKED A PAIR OF U.S. MARINES ON SHORE LEAVE IN IZMIR, TURKEY, MONDAY. THE MARINES FROM THE USS WASP WERE APPROACHED BY 15 PEOPLE TIED TO THE TURKISH YOUTH UNION, A STUDENT GROUP KNOWN FOR BEING ANTI-AMERICAN AND LINKED TO ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S NATIONALIST PARTIES.

THE ASSAILANTS REPORTEDLY PLACED A BAG OVER ONE MARINE’S HEAD WHILE SHOUTING, “YANKEE, GO HOME.” THE ACT ECHOING AN INCIDENT IN 2014 WHEN MEMBERS OF THE SAME GROUP ATTACKED U.S. SAILORS IN ISTANBUL. THE TURKISH YOUTH UNION HAS A HISTORY OF THESE TYPES OF DEMONSTRATIONS THEY SAY ARE IN RETALIATION FOR THE 2003 INCIDENT IN IRAQ WHERE U.S. TROOPS DETAINED TURKISH SOLDIERS AND PLACED HOODS OVER THEIR HEADS.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES RESPONDED QUICKLY, DETAINING THE ATTACKERS. THE MARINES WERE UNHARMED BUT WERE TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL BEFORE BEING RELEASED BACK TO THE USS WASP.

THE SHIP ARRIVED IN IZMIR ON SUNDAY FOLLOWING JOINT EXERCISES WITH THE TURKISH NAVY.

THE TURKISH YOUTH UNION, KNOWN FOR ITS ANTI-IMPERIALIST AND ANTI-AMERICAN STANCE, POSTED A VIDEO OF THE ATTACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHERE IT HAS BEEN WIDELY CIRCULATED.

THE U.S. EMBASSY CONFIRMED THE INCIDENT AND THANKED TURKISH AUTHORITIES FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE. THE NAVAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE IS WORKING WITH LOCAL POLICE ON THE INVESTIGATION.

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