In a tragic turn of events, twelve Turkish soldiers have died after being exposed to methane gas during a military operation in northern Iraq, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence confirmed on Monday.
The incident occurred on Sunday during a search-and-clear mission targeting a cave believed to have been used by Kurdish militants. Nineteen personnel were initially affected by the gas exposure and rushed to hospital. Despite medical efforts, twelve succumbed to the effects by the following day.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed deep sorrow at the loss, extending condolences to the grieving families and the broader Turkish Armed Forces. “We received the news with great sadness,” Erdoğan said, pledging continued commitment to security operations in the region.
Though methane is not inherently toxic, it can prove deadly in confined environments by displacing oxygen, leading to suffocation. Experts say underground cave systems — like those frequently targeted in Turkey’s cross-border operations — pose a high risk for such gas buildups, especially when disturbed.
The soldiers were reportedly searching for the body of a comrade killed in May 2022 during Operation Claw-Lock, Turkey’s ongoing offensive against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The operation has included airstrikes and ground raids on cave complexes in northern Iraq, where PKK fighters have long maintained a presence.
The PKK — designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., UK, and EU — has waged a violent insurgency against the Turkish state since the 1980s. Originally seeking Kurdish independence, the group later shifted its demands to autonomy and expanded rights for Turkey’s Kurdish population. The decades-long conflict has claimed over 40,000 lives.
In a major development earlier this year, the PKK declared a ceasefire in March and, in May, announced plans to disband, claiming its “historic mission” had been fulfilled and that it would “end the method of armed struggle.” The organization cited shifting regional dynamics and international pressure as factors behind the move.
In a potential milestone toward peace, PKK officials stated that a contingent of fighters would begin laying down arms this week in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq — the first tangible step since the group’s disarmament declaration.
While Turkish officials framed the methane incident as a tragic accident amid the broader fight against terrorism, some regional observers are drawing attention to the operational risks of subterranean warfare and the need for updated safety protocols in such missions.
As Turkey mourns its fallen soldiers, questions remain about how the recent developments within the PKK might shift Ankara’s long-running counterinsurgency operations — and whether this incident could mark both a tragedy and a turning point in a 40-year conflict.
