Twelve Turkish soldiers have died after inhaling methane gas during a mission in northern Iraq, Turkiye’s Ministry of National Defence announced on Monday. The incident occurred on Sunday inside a cave as troops conducted a search operation targeting Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) positions.
This tragedy highlights the non-combat risks faced by military personnel operating in complex environments.
The Incident
The Turkish Ministry of National Defence confirmed the deaths, stating that four soldiers initially affected by methane gas later died, bringing the total toll to 12. Nineteen soldiers were exposed to the gas inside a site previously used by armed fighters as a hospital.
The incident took place on Sunday during a mission to locate the remains of a soldier killed by PKK fighters in 2022.
Operation Claw-Lock Context
The soldiers were conducting a sweep inside a cave located at an altitude of 852 metres (2,795 feet) in the Metina region. This area is part of Turkiye’s ongoing military campaign, known as Operation Claw-Lock, which targets PKK positions in northern Iraq. The operation has been in effect since 2022, aiming to prevent the group from using the region as a base for attacks against Turkiye.
Turkish soldiers patrol a road near the border between Turkiye and Iraq.
Methane gas, while not inherently toxic, can be deadly in confined spaces like caves because it displaces oxygen, leading to suffocation risks. The ministry has not provided details on how the gas accumulated inside the cave. The condition of the remaining seven soldiers exposed to the gas was not immediately clear.
Official Reactions
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his “great sorrow” over the incident and offered condolences to the families of the soldiers who died. Defence Minister Yasar Guler traveled to the Metina region to oversee inspections related to the incident and attend ceremonies for the deceased soldiers. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wished a speedy recovery for the affected soldiers.
Background: Turkiye and the PKK
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is designated as a terrorist group by Turkiye, the European Union, and the United States. The group has engaged in a conflict with the Turkish state since 1984, initially fighting for Kurdish autonomy. This conflict has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths over several decades. While the PKK recently indicated an end to its armed struggle, Turkiye continues military operations against its fighters, particularly in northern Iraq and Syria, which Ankara sees as posing a security threat. Learn more about this context in related coverage: History Illustrated: Turkiye welcomes PKK pledge to disband. Why now? and What does the PKK’s disarming mean for its regional allies?.
News of the soldiers’ deaths emerged concurrently with reports of a delegation from the pro-Kurdish DEM party visiting jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan, indicating ongoing, albeit complex, interactions surrounding the conflict.
The deaths underscore the various dangers faced by military personnel deployed in operational areas, including unseen environmental hazards within complex terrains like caves.
