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.
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.
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.
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.
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