WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Marines assigned to the USS Wasp amphibious warship that is in port in Turkey have had their shore leave canceled following an attack on two Marines during a port visit to Izmir, a U.S. defense official told The Associated Press.
The Wasp has been sailing in the eastern Mediterranean in a show of support for Israel and to be able to come to Israel’s defense if the war in Gaza escalates into a larger regional conflict.
A second military official said that no changes are anticipated to the Wasp’s in-port schedule. The official didn't have further details to share on what prompted the attack on Monday, saying that the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) was still looking into it.
Both officials spoke Tuesday on the condition of anonymity to provide details not made public.
Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Monday that authorities detained 15 members of an anti-American youth organization who physically assaulted two U.S. military personnel in the city of Izmir.