Reason why protestors put a sack on an American soldier in Türkiye

In a striking protest, members of the Turkish Youth Union (TGB) placed a sack over the head of a U.S. soldier stationed on the USS Wasp in Izmir on Monday. The incident, which quickly spread across social media, has reignited discussions on U.S.-Türkiye relations, harking back to a similar event from 2003.

The protest was a deliberate reference to the “Hood event” of July 4, 2003, when Turkish Special Forces in Sulaymaniyah, Northern Iraq, were detained by U.S. troops, who placed hoods over their heads. This event, which took place on U.S. Independence Day, created significant diplomatic tensions between the two NATO allies.

The 2003 incident involved members of the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade and Turkish Special Forces. The raid was reportedly motivated by concerns over Turkish intelligence activities in the region, particularly related to the collection of sensitive information on Turkmen populations. The detainment of Turkish soldiers during this operation was widely viewed in Türkiye as a national humiliation and has remained a sore point in bilateral relations.

The Turkish Youth Union’s recent action in İzmir appears to be a symbolic response to the original 2003 incident, aimed at reminding the public and authorities of the lasting impact of the Sulaymaniyah operation. The protest has spurred renewed debates over the history of U.S.-Turkish military interactions and the broader implications for the two countries’ diplomatic relationship.

The 2003 event had significant repercussions, including the reassignment of Turkish military personnel and disruptions in the promotion processes for certain officers. It also sparked widespread public outrage in Türkiye and marked a turning point in the country’s relationship with the United States.