Turkish Authorities Detain 15 for Assault on U.S. Military Personnel in Izmir

Turkish authorities detained 15 members of an anti-American youth group for physically assaulting two U.S. military personnel in Izmir. Members of the Turkish Youth Union, aligned with the Patriotic Party, were apprehended after sharing a video of the incident online. The U.S. Embassy confirmed the service members are now safe.

Turkish authorities on Monday detained 15 members of an anti-American youth organization who physically assaulted two U.S. military personnel in the city of Izmir, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

The agency said members of the Turkish Youth Union, affiliated with the nationalist Patriotic Party, were detained on the orders of a prosecutor.

The group posted a video of the incident on social media, showing them placing sacks over the heads of soldiers from the U.S. Navy ship USS Wasp. The footage captures men shouting, "Yankee go home!" while attempting to restrain a service member.

The U.S. Embassy confirmed the incident, expressing gratitude to Turkish authorities for their swift action and ongoing investigation. The USS Wasp had arrived in Izmir on Sunday after joint training with Turkish assault ships in the Mediterranean.

(With inputs from agencies.)