On Monday, a disturbing incident unfolded in the port city of Izmir, Turkey, where two US Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit were assaulted by a small crowd while on liberty. The US Sixth Fleet confirmed the assault in a statement.
A video of the assault, verified by a US official, depicted several individuals forcibly holding the Marines while a speaker on the street shouted loudly. One Marine can be heard repeatedly calling for help, while another had a bag placed over their head as the crowd chanted, 'Yankee, go home!'
Fortunately, with the assistance of other Marines in the vicinity, the assaulted Marines managed to break free from the crowd. Following the incident, they were promptly screened at a local hospital and were found to be uninjured. Subsequently, they returned to the USS Wasp.
Local authorities, including Izmir police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, are actively investigating the assault. No Marines were detained, and all parties involved are cooperating with the ongoing inquiry.
The US Embassy in Turkey acknowledged the assault on social media, expressing gratitude to Turkish authorities for their swift response and continued investigation. The Izmir Governorship also released a statement confirming that local police intervened in the incident and apprehended 15 suspects.
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is part of the USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, currently stationed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea amidst regional tensions. The USS Wasp had docked in Izmir the day before the assault, allowing Marines to disembark for a brief respite.
