Two U.S. Marines were ambushed and assaulted on Monday in Turkey by Turkish Youth Union members, leading to the arrest of 15 people by Turkish authorities.
Fox News reported that Monday’s incident occurred in Izmir, which is located on the Aegean coast in Turkey. The outlet reported that the Izmir governor’s office identified the attackers as members of the Turkish Youth Union, which is an anti-American nationalist group in Turkey. The governor also noted that the victims were U.S. service members assigned to the USS Wasp and that the victims were “physically attacked.”
After the incident, the anti-American group posted a video of the attack on X, saying, “U.S. soldiers who have the blood of thousands of Palestinians on their hands cannot defile our country.”
The video shows the U.S. Marines dressed in civilian clothing and yelling for help after being attacked by the Turkish Youth Union members. The Turkish nationals can be seen restraining the victims while one man put a plastic bag over one of the service member’s heads. The mob can also be heard shouting, “Yankee, go home!”
In a statement obtained by Reuters after Monday’s ambush, the Turkish Youth Union said, “Every time you step foot in these lands, we will meet you the way you deserve.”
According to Fox News, five U.S. service members intervened to aid the two U.S. Marines during Monday’s incident in Turkey. Turkish authorities later arrested the 15 men who ambushed the Marines.
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In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, the U.S. Embassy in Turkey confirmed Monday’s incident, saying, “We can confirm reports that U.S. service members embarked aboard the USS Wasp were the victims of an assault in İzmir today, and are now safe. We thank Turkish authorities for their rapid response and ongoing investigation.”
Fox News reported that the U.S. Navy confirmed that the two Marines who were ambushed on Monday were transported to a local hospital but were not injured in the incident. The Navy also confirmed that the Marines had already returned to the USS Wasp.
In a statement obtained by Fox News, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Timothy Gorman, a U.S. Sixth Fleet spokesperson, said, “Local Izmir police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are cooperating in an investigation of the incident. No Marines have been detained by authorities and those involved are cooperating with investigators.”
