An attack on U.S. Marines in Turkey was caught on camera. It happened Sunday, Sept. 1.
The Marines are attached to the Norfolk-based USS Wasp .
“This is clearly a troubling incident,” USAF Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a press briefing at the Pentagon Tuesday afternoon.
A video posted on X shows members of a Turkish youth group placing a white bag over the head of a U.S. Marine and repeatedly shouting, “Yankee, go home!”
It also shows another Marine being held against his will.
The Turkish government says five service members tried to help the two Marines assaulted. The government also says all 15 assailants have been detained.
The Marines were on liberty in Izmir, Turkey while the USS Wasp was docked there.
“Certainly, very proud of the professionalism of our service members,” Ryder said.
According to national reports , the same youth group made a similar attack against a Navy civilian employee in 2021 and attacked some sailors in 2014.
The USS Wasp is an amphibious assault ship that primarily helps support Marines during deployments.