U.S. Marines Assaulted in Izmir, Turkey: 15 Nationalists Arrested

Incident Involving U.S. Marines in Turkey

The Turkish authorities have apprehended 15 members of a nationalist youth organization following an assault on two U.S. Marines in the port city of Izmir, western Turkey, on Monday. The marines, part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, were off their ship and dressed in civilian clothing when the incident occurred, as confirmed by Cmdr. Timothy Gorman, a spokesperson for the U.S. Sixth Fleet.

According to Cmdr. Gorman, the marines were taken to a local hospital for precautionary evaluation but have since returned to their ship, the U.S.S. Wasp, and are reported to be safe. He stated, “Local Izmir police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are collaborating on an investigation into the incident.” Importantly, he noted that no Marines have been detained by local authorities, and those involved are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

The governor’s office in Izmir released a statement via social media indicating that members of the Turkish Youth Union were taken into custody following the attack. This group is affiliated with the Patriotic Party, a nationalist faction that currently holds no seats in Turkey’s Parliament and is known for its anti-American sentiments, as reported by the Associated Press.

The U.S. Embassy also issued a statement on social media reassuring that the service members who were assaulted are safe and aboard their ship, the U.S.S. Wasp. Footage shared on social media and verified by the news agency Storyful appears to depict the attack on the Marines. In the video, a group of young men can be seen surrounding one Marine, attempting to restrain him and put a sack over his head, while another individual intervenes and tries to push the assailants away.

Chants of “Yankee go home” in English resonate throughout the footage, reminiscent of previous incidents. Notably, in 2014, members of the same nationalist youth group faced arrest for their involvement in assaults on three American sailors visiting Istanbul. During that incident, they employed similar tactics, overwhelming a few servicemen on leave and attempting to cover their heads with white sacks, while chanting slogans like “Yankee go home!” and “Down with U.S. imperialism!”

The U.S.S. Wasp had arrived in Izmir on Sunday for a scheduled port visit following a joint training exercise with Turkey in the Mediterranean. This deployment is part of a broader strategy by the U.S. Navy aimed at deterring escalating conflicts in the Middle East.