Members of the Turkish Youth Union (TGB), a nationalist and socialist youth group, forcefully detained and assaulted a U.S. soldier in İzmir, placing a sack over his head while chanting anti-American slogans, including “Go Home Yankee.” A second American soldier, who attempted to intervene, was quickly driven back after being physically assaulted by the group. The incident occurred in the Konak district, a central area of İzmir, with the two soldiers dressed in civilian clothing.
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Earlier today, members of the Turkish Youth Union forcefully detained an American soldier, placing a sack over his head while chanting “Go Home Yankee.” A second U.S. soldier attempted to intervene but quickly withdrew after receiving several punches, likely concerned… pic.twitter.com/0ZCZOCHPE2
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The U.S. soldiers involved in the incident were reportedly serving on the USS Wasp, a U.S. Navy warship deployed in the Mediterranean in support of U.S. operations in Gaza. The Turkish Youth Union has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it was a protest against U.S. involvement in Gaza and what they described as decades-long “U.S. imperialism.” The group, affiliated with the nationalist Vatan Party, has a history of anti-American protests, often using the act of placing sacks over the heads of American soldiers. This form of protest traces back to an incident in 2003, when U.S. forces placed sacks over the heads of Turkish soldiers in Iraq.
After witnessing the event, 5 more US soldiers joined, and Turkish police detained 15 individuals, including the president of the Turkish Youth Union, Kayahan Cetin. The detained individuals were taken to the Alsancak Police Station for processing, and their legal representatives have since arrived to monitor the proceedings. The İzmir governor’s office confirmed the arrests and stated that a comprehensive investigation has been launched under the supervision of the public prosecutor.
The incident has drawn condemnation from local authorities. The İzmir Municipality issued a press release denouncing the assault, emphasizing that such acts of violence are unacceptable and do not reflect the values of the broader Turkish community.
In response, the U.S. Embassy in Türkiye acknowledged the attack, confirming that the service members are safe and expressing gratitude for the rapid response of Turkish authorities. The embassy noted that it is closely monitoring the situation as the investigation continues.
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