Twelve Turkish soldiers lost their lives after inhaling lethal levels of methane gas.
They were searching a cave in northern Iraq, Turkey’s Defence Ministry confirmed on Monday.
The soldiers were on a mission to locate the remains of a comrade killed in a 2022 gunfight.
This was during Operation Claw Lock — Turkey’s ongoing military campaign against PKK militants.
What Happened?
Nineteen personnel were exposed to the gas. Despite being rushed to the hospital, more than half didn’t make it.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed “great sorrow” and offered condolences to the grieving families.
A military farewell ceremony was held in Hakkari before the bodies were returned to their hometowns.
Though not poisonous in itself, methane in enclosed spaces can quickly replace oxygen — effectively suffocating anyone trapped inside.
Why the cave contained such high levels remains a mystery.
The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey and several Western nations, has been locked in a bloody four-decade insurgency.
But in a surprising turn, the group recently declared it would disband and begin laying down arms.
Ironically, as peace inches closer, lives are still being lost.
