US Service Men Targeted Inside NATO Country In Broad Daylight [VIDEO]

Two U.S. service members were assaulted in Izmir, Turkey, following an incident involving a group of local nationalists.

The U.S. Embassy in Turkey confirmed the assault, stating that the service members, who were stationed on the USS Wasp, are now safe following the confrontation on Monday.

The incident occurred in the bustling Konak district of Izmir, where members of the Turkey Youth Union (TBG), affiliated with the nationalist opposition Vatan Party, were reported to have “physically attacked” two American soldiers dressed in civilian clothes.

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The altercation escalated quickly, drawing in five additional U.S. soldiers who witnessed the attack, before police intervened and detained all 15 attackers.

An investigation into the incident has been initiated by local authorities.

Videos circulating online, including one posted by TBG itself, depict a chaotic scene where a man is surrounded and restrained by a group. Chants of “Yankee, go home!” can be heard as the group places a hood over the man’s head.

Thugs in Turkey abduct a sailor from the USS Wasp and put a bag over his head yelling “Yankee, go home”

When his fellow sailor tries to rescue him, they assault him

This is what Biden’s weakness has done to our military pic.twitter.com/EwmDyZXflb

— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) September 2, 2024

TBG proudly claimed responsibility for the act on social media, stating, “WE PUT SACKS ON THE US SOLDIERS SERVING ON THE LARGEST ATTACK SHIP OF THE USA, USS WASP!” The post further justified the attack by accusing the U.S. soldiers of having “the blood of our soldiers and thousands of Palestinians on their hands,” and declared that U.S. soldiers would always be met with hostility on Turkish soil.

The U.S. Embassy has not confirmed if the individuals in the video are the same as those reported in the assault but has expressed gratitude towards Turkish authorities for their prompt response and the ongoing investigation. “We thank Turkish authorities for their rapid response and ongoing investigation,” the embassy communicated via a post on X.

The USS Wasp is currently deployed in the Naval Forces Europe-Africa area as part of a scheduled mission to support U.S. efforts in promoting regional stability and deterring aggression.

This deployment comes at a time when the U.S. military has heightened its presence in the Mediterranean amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly relating to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The tensions in the region are further exacerbated by internal strife within Israel, which has been paralyzed by a nationwide general strike.

The strike was prompted by public outrage over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to negotiate a hostage release deal with Hamas.

This public discontent erupted after the tragic discovery of the bodies of six hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who were killed during a massacre on October 7 and later found in a Gaza tunnel.

This assault on American servicemen highlights the complex and volatile nature of international relations in the region, reflecting broader geopolitical conflicts and the intense emotions they stir among local and international actors.

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