Two U.S. Marines assaulted in Turkey by nationalist mob chanting ‘Yankee go home’

ISTANBUL, Turkey — Two U.S. Marines were assaulted by a group of young nationalists in Turkey on Monday, officials in both countries said, with one attacker placing a bag over the head of one service member.

The dramatic incident in the western port city of Izmir was captured on video, which was geolocated by NBC News. It shows the moment two Marines were surrounded by a group of 15 people in a commercial area who were chanting “Yankee go home.”

The group then restrained one Marine before one of them places a bag over his head. Moments later, another man can be seen charging the group. None of the service members are in uniform.

Other Marines intervened, and no one was injured, the Navy said in a statement. The service members later returned to their ship, the USS Wasp, it said.

The Marines’ unit is on routine deployment with the U.S. Navy’s Wasp Amphibious Readiness Group, Navy Cmdr. Timothy Gorman said.

National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said in a statement Tuesday: “We are troubled by this assault on U.S. service members and are appreciative that Turkish police are taking this matter seriously and holding those responsible accountable.”

Local authorities later identified the group as members of the Turkish Youth Union, or TGB, which is affiliated with the Patriotic Party — a small, nationalist political party without parliament seats.

“On Monday, September 2, 2024, at around 16:00, two US citizen military personnel in civilian clothes were physically attacked by a group of 15 people, 2 women and 13 men, who are members of the Turkish Youth Union (TGB),” The office of Süleyman Elban, the governor of Izmir province, said in a statement.

The statement added that the 15 alleged attackers were “caught and detained” by local security forces. It said five plain clothes U.S. service members were “watching from a distance” and were involved in the incident in some way.

An account on X purporting to represent the TGB said on Monday: “WE PUT SACKS ON THE US SOLDIERS SERVING ON THE LARGEST ATTACK SHIP OF THE USA, USS WASP! US soldiers, who carry the blood of our soldiers and thousands of Palestinians on their hands, cannot dirty our country. Every time you step into these lands, we will welcome you as you deserve!”

In a statement, the U.S. Embassy in Turkey thanked authorities for their swift response and the ongoing investigation. The service members were safe, and no Marines were detained, the embassy said.

Those involved are cooperating with the local investigation, according to the Navy statement.

Elif Ince reported from Istanbul, Patrick Smith from London, Courtney Kube from Washington and Tim Stelloh and Jean lee from Los Angeles.