ANKARA: A nationalist Turkish youth group on Monday physically assaulted two US Marines in western Turkiye, the US Embassy in Turkiye and the local governor`s office said, adding that 15 assailants had been detained over the incident.

In a statement, the Izmir governor`s office said members of the Turkiye Youth Union (TGB), a youth branch of the nationalist opposition Vatan Party, `physically attacked` the two dressed in civilian clothes in the Konak district.

It added that five US personnel joined in after seeing the incident, and that police intervened. All 15 attack-ers had been detained and an investigation was launched into the matter, it said.

A White House spokesperson said on Monday Washington was `troubled` by the assault but added it was `appreciative that Turkish police are taking this matter seriously and holding those responsible accountable.` The US Embassy to Turkiye also confirmed the attack and said the US service members were now safe.

`We can confirm reports that US service members embarked aboard the USS Wasp were the victims of an assault in Izmir today, and are now safe,` it said on social media platform X.-Reuters