Turkish citizens took to the streets of Izmir on Monday night, rallying against the docking of the American warship, USS Wasp, in the city’s port. The demonstrators expressed their strong opposition to U.S. military support for Israel during its ongoing war in Gaza, which they labeled as genocide. The protests come in response to the USS Wasp anchoring in Izmir, one of several U.S. vessels deployed to the region to bolster Israel’sdefense capabilities amid rising tensions. The protesters, holding Palestinian flags and chanting anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans, demanded the immediate departure of the warship.

The USS Wasp arrived at Izmir on Sunday, carrying approximately 1,500 U.S. soldiers after previously engaging in joint naval exercises with the Turkish Navy in August. The warship, along with its companion ships USS Oak Hill and USS New York, has been stationed in the region since June as part of U.S. deterrence measures aimed at preventing potential threats to Israel. However, the ship’s presence has sparked widespread backlash in Turkey, with protesters criticizing their country’s ports being used for what they called “supply and logistics points for murderers.”

Demonstrators held banners reading, “Our country’s ports cannot be supply and logistics points for murderers,” as they gathered at the port’s entrance. Organized by several Turkish political parties and activist groups, the protest also saw participants chanting, “Down with Israel,” “Down with NATO,” “Down with USA,” and “Yankee Go Home,” in a display of solidarity with Palestinians suffering under Israeli bombardment in Gaza. Many protesters condemned the U.S. for exacerbating regional conflicts, linking its military actions in Iraq, Syria, and now Gaza to global instability and suffering.

Tensions in Izmir further escalated after two U.S. Marines from the USS Wasp were reportedly assaulted by a group of protesters. The incident occurred during a protest denouncing U.S. imperialism and Israeli military actions. The Turkey Youth Union (TGB), which claimed responsibility for the incident, stated that U.S. soldiers have “the blood of our soldiers and thousands of Palestinians on their hands.” Turkish police detained 15 people involved in the incident, heightening concerns over further unrest.

The USS Wasp’s presence in Izmir is part of a broader U.S. military buildup in the region as Washington steps up support for Israel. Since the start of the War on Gaza on October 7, the U.S. has sent extensive arms and ammunition shipments to Israel, with the latest consignment marking the 500th delivery since the conflict began.