Methane Gas Leak in Cave K!lls 12 Soldiers During Search Mission

Twelve Turkish soldiers have lost their lives after being exposed to methane gas while conducting a search operation in caves located in northern Iraq.

The soldiers were on a mission to recover the remains of a fellow serviceman who was killed in a confrontation with Kurdish militants more than three years ago.

According to a statement released by the Turkish Ministry of Defence, a total of 19 troops were affected by the gas leak during the operation, which took place on Sunday, July 6.

The unit had entered a cave network as part of their search for the body of a soldier who was fatally shot by members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in May 2022.

Authorities noted that the cave system had previously served as an improvised medical facility for PKK fighters, who have maintained a presence in the rugged border region between Turkey and Iraq for years.

At this time, the exact source of the methane gas remains undetermined.

The search was part of Turkey’s ongoing military offensive against the PKK, which Ankara, along with the United States and European Union, classifies as a terrorist group.

The broader military operation, dubbed Operation Claw-Lock, was launched in April 2022 and is aimed at eliminating PKK militants believed to be hiding in cave systems across the region.