A group of Turkish men attacked American soldiers who were walking the streets of Izmir, southern Turkey, on Monday. The US personnel were on liberty after the USS Wasp, which they are attached to, made a port call. Social media video shows a group of men surrounding one US soldier and violently constraining him while another places a white bag over his head in an attempt to humiliate and potentially kidnap him. Several more US troops jump in to push the Turkish men off their fellow serviceman.
Reuters confirmed the incident, stating that “A nationalist Turkish youth group on Monday physically assaulted two U.S. soldiers in western Turkey, the U.S. Embassy in Turkey and the local governor’s office said, adding that 15 assailants had been detained over the incident.” The US Embassy in Turkey confirmed the American personnel are safe after the attack.
The Izmir governor’s office identified the attackers as part of an ultra-nationalist group called the Turkey Youth Union (TGB), which is associated with the opposition Vatan Party. The statement said that the Turkish group “physically attacked” two American soldiers who were in civilian clothes in the Konak district.
The same report says that a total of five other US soldiers quickly came to their fellow servicemember’s aid to fight off the attackers, after which local police intervened.
Turkish journalist and regional correspondent Ragıp Soylu described the event as “A payback in their understanding for US soldiers placing sacks over Turkish soldiers operating in Northern Iraq almost 20 years ago.
The incident appears to have turned into an anti-American demonstration, involving US Marines that the crowd tried to detain or essentially kidnap. The attackers reportedly chanted “Yankee, go home!” while at least one American soldier was being held captive. Turkish investigators have yet to provide an official motive for the assault.
