ANKARA: A nationalist Turkish youth group on Monday physically assaulted two US Marines in western Turkiye, the US Embassy in Turkiye and the local governor’s office said, adding that 15 assailants had been detained over the incident.

In a statement, the Izmir governor’s office said members of the Turkiye Youth Union (TGB), a youth branch of the nationalist opposition Vatan Party, “physically attacked” the two dressed in civilian clothes in the Konak district.

It added that five US personnel joined in after seeing the incident, and that police intervened. All 15 attackers had been detained and an investigation was launched into the matter, it said.

A White House spokesperson said on Monday Washington was “troubled” by the assault but added it was “appreciative that Turkish police are taking this matter seriously and holding those responsible accountable.” The US Embassy to Turkiye also confirmed the attack and said the US service members were now safe.

“We can confirm reports that US service members embarked aboard the USS Wasp were the victims of an assault in Izmir today, and are now safe,” it said on social media platform X.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2024