US Navy Says 2 Marines Attacked During Port Visit in Turkey

Two US Marines from the USS Wasp were attacked on Monday while on liberty during a port visit to Izmir, Turkey, CBS News reports, citing the Navy.

The Marines, part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, were taken to a local hospital for evaluation as a precaution and have since returned to their ship.

US Navy Cmdr. Timothy Gorman, spokesperson for the U.S. Sixth Fleet, confirmed the incident, stating that local Izmir police and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) are cooperating in an investigation.

“No Marines have been detained by authorities and those involved are cooperating with investigators,” Gorman said.

The Navy is currently withholding details about the nature of the attack, including the Marines’ activities at the time and the identity of the suspects.

The USS Wasp, a multi-purpose amphibious assault ship, is currently on a routine deployment to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which includes the Marines who were attacked, recently completed a bilateral training exercise with Turkish forces in the region.