On Monday, two U.S. Marines from the USS Wasp were attacked during a port visit in Izmir, Turkey, the U.S. Sixth Fleet said.
The Marines, wearing civilian clothes, were assaulted by a group of two women and 13 men who are members of the Turkish Youth Group, according to the Izmir Governorship, the local governor’s office, in a post on X formerly Twitter
The Turkish Youth Union is a national youth and student group with an anti-American and anti-imperialist stance. They are linked to the Turkish “Vatan Party,” a nationalist political party in Turkey.
The incident occurred in the Konak district of Izmir, and all 15 attackers have been detained, officials confirmed.
The office said that five additional US soldiers intervened upon witnessing the attack, prompting the police to step in. An investigation into the assault has been initiated.
The US Embassy in Turkey confirmed the incident, and said, “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,” through the social media platform X.
Earlier, the TGB posted a video on X showing a group holding down a man on the street and putting a white hood over his head, while shouting slogans.
The group said the man was a soldier on board the USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship. The U.S. Embassy in Ankara had said earlier on Monday that the vessel was carrying out a port visit to the Aegean coastal town of Izmir this week.
“U.S. soldiers who carry the blood of our soldiers and thousands of Palestinians on their hands cannot dirty our country. Every time you step foot in these lands, we will meet you how you deserve,” TGB said.
