Two U.S. Marines were assaulted Monday by a small group of anti-American protesters in western Turkey, with a viral video showing them placing a bag over one Marine's head as he cried for help.
The nationalist organization behind the attack, the Turkish Youth Group, was seen in the video chanting "Yankee, go home." Several people were pushing him around before they placed a sack on his head.
The Turkish Youth Group said in a post on the social platform X that "no one will be able to respond to the cries for help from U.S. soldiers."
"Your hands are stained with the blood of our brave soldiers and thousands of Palestinians," they said, also demanding American troops leave Turkey.
The U.S. Embassy in Turkey confirmed that service members from the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship were attacked on Monday in Izmir. The vessel is deployed in the Middle East region amid high tensions sparked by the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The embassy said in a post on X the troops were "now safe" and thanked Turkish authorities for a "rapid response and ongoing investigation."
At least 15 people were arrested by Turkish authorities after the attack, according to Turkish media.
The Turkish Youth Group has long been anti-American and has previously orchestrated similar attacks, including a 2021 incident in Istanbul that also saw them place a hood over a U.S. service member's head.
The youth group is affiliated with the national Patriotic Party in Turkey.
The incident sparked immediate backlash in Washington.
“We are troubled by this assault on US service members and are appreciative that Turkish police are taking this matter seriously and holding those responsible accountable," said White House national security spokesperson Sean Savett in a statement to The Hill.
Some Republicans, however, took a harsher tone.
"This cannot happen to members of our military without Turkey having to answer for it," Nikki Haley, who unsuccessfully ran to be the 2024 GOP nominee, posted on X. "The Marines are to be commended for their calm response in what was an unacceptable act. They deserve better."
Turkey is a NATO member and U.S. ally, but Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has much warmer relations with Russia than Western allies, and he has been one of the most outspoken critics of Israel's war against Hamas among NATO leaders.
