Two US Marines were assaulted by a small crowd in Izmir, Turkey, on Monday, an incident that quickly went viral on social media. The American soldiers, part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) stationed aboard the USS Wasp, were attacked in the afternoon, according to a statement from the US Sixth Fleet.
Video footage of the event shows several individuals restraining the Marines as one of them repeatedly called for help. The crowd, chanting “Yankee, go home!” placed a bag over one Marine’s head. The US Navy confirmed that the Marines were on liberty during a scheduled port visit when the attack occurred around 3:30 p.m. on September 2, 2024.
NEW: Two U.S. servicemen from the U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, assaulted in Izmir, Turkey.
A group of men were heard yelling “Yankee go home” as they assaulted one of the Americans and put a sack over his head.
The men responsible for the attack were members of… pic.twitter.com/yyIZ2e2Sag
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 2, 2024
Despite the confrontation, the Marines managed to escape with the help of nearby service members. They were taken to a local hospital for evaluation but reported no injuries and have since returned to their ship.
The US embassy in Turkey acknowledged the assault and thanked Turkish authorities for their prompt response. Local police intervened during the attack, arresting 15 suspects linked to the Turkish Youth Union, a nationalist group with a history of anti-American sentiment.
The Izmir Governorship stated that a judicial investigation is ongoing, with the suspects cooperating with authorities. The USS Wasp had docked in Izmir just a day prior as part of a scheduled port visit following joint military training exercises.
The US Navy highlighted that the 24th MEU is currently on a routine deployment with the Wasp Amphibious Readiness Group (WSP ARG) in the US Sixth Fleet’s area of operations. Their mission supports US, Allied, and partner interests in the region, including the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, while remaining ready to deter aggression.