By Ece Toksabay and Kanishka Singh
ANKARA/ WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A nationalist Turkish youth group on Monday bodily assaulted two U.S. troopers in western Turkey, the U.S. Embassy in Turkey and the native governor’s workplace mentioned, including that 15 assailants had been detained over the incident.
In a press release, the Izmir governor’s workplace mentioned members of the Turkey Youth Union (TGB), a youth department of the nationalist opposition Vatan Occasion, “physically attacked” two U.S. troopers wearing civilian garments within the Konak district.
It added that 5 U.S. troopers joined in after seeing the incident, and that police intervened. All 15 attackers had been detained and an investigation was launched into the matter, it mentioned.
A White Home spokesperson mentioned on Monday Washington was “troubled” by the assault however added it was “appreciative that Turkish police are taking this matter seriously and holding those responsible accountable.”
The U.S. Embassy to Turkey additionally confirmed the assault and mentioned the U.S. troopers had been now secure.
“We can confirm reports that U.S. service members embarked aboard the USS Wasp were the victims of an assault in Izmir today, and are now safe,” it mentioned on social media platform X.
Earlier, the TGB posted a video on X exhibiting a gaggle holding down a person on the road and placing a white hood over his head, whereas shouting slogans.
The group mentioned the person was a soldier on board the usWasp, an amphibious assault ship. The U.S. Embassy in Ankara had mentioned earlier on Monday that the ship was finishing up a port go to to the Aegean coastal city of Izmir this week.
“U.S. soldiers who carry the blood of our soldiers and thousands of Palestinians on their hands cannot dirty our country. Every time you step foot in these lands, we will meet you the way you deserve,” TGB mentioned.
U.S.-Turkey ties have been strained in recent times by the U.S. alliance with Syrian Kurds that Turkey deems extremists, and over Turkey’s buy of Russian S-400 defences that prompted U.S. sanctions and removing from a F-35 jet programme.
There has additionally been divergence over Israel’s struggle in Gaza, the place over 40,000 individuals have been killed based on Gaza authorities, and over which Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has sharply criticised Washington’s ally.
Earlier this month, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey mentioned U.S.-Turkey relations at the moment are “in a better place than we’ve been in a while” and famous the “useful role” Turkey performed in a latest prisoner change between the USA and Russia.
