In a shocking incident in İzmir, Türkiye, two US Marines were attacked by a group of nationalist youths. The Marines had just stepped off their ship, the USS Wasp, which had docked in the Mediterranean Sea.
The attack was caught on video, showing a chaotic scene. The footage reveals a group of men pinning down one Marine and covering his head with a white sack. The mob shouted “Yankee, go home!” as they attacked.
Local authorities acted quickly. Police detained 15 people involved in the incident. The Marines were taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution but were not injured. They have since returned safely to their ship.
The group behind the attack is called the Youth Union of Türkiye (TGB), linked to the Patriotic Party. They claimed the Marines are responsible for the deaths of Turkish soldiers and Palestinians, which sparked their anger. This group had previously targeted American service members in other Turkish cities, citing a 2003 incident in Iraq when US troops detained Turkish commandos and put hoods over their heads—a move that angered many in Türkiye.
Despite this tense moment, the US Embassy reassured everyone that the Marines are safe and thanked Turkish authorities for their quick response. This attack adds to the ongoing strain between the US and Türkiye, two NATO allies with a complex relationship.
Earlier, a Ukrainian terrorist was arrested by Turkish intelligence after attempting an assassination of a top Russian military official in Moscow.
Meanwhile, Türkiye is looking to join the BRICS group, a club of major economies that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This move comes as Türkiye, frustrated with its rocky relationship with NATO over the Ukraine conflict and slow progress on joining the European Union, seeks new alliances. By joining BRICS, Türkiye hopes to strengthen ties with countries like Russia and other emerging economies.
