Methane Gas Kills 12 Turkish Soldiers in Iraq Cave Incident

Methane Gas Kills 12 Turkish Soldiers in Iraq Cave Incident
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Twelve Turkish soldiers died after being exposed to methane gas while conducting a cave search in northern Iraq, BBC reports. The Turkish Ministry of National Defence said 19 personnel were affected during the search-and-clear mission on Sunday and were rushed to hospital, but 12 did not survive.

The operation aimed to recover the body of a soldier killed in May 2022 during Operation Claw Lock, Turkey’s military campaign against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iraq. A farewell ceremony was held in Hakkari province before the soldiers’ bodies were returned to their hometowns.

Methane gas can suffocate people in confined spaces, though it is not directly toxic. It is unclear why the cave contained dangerous methane levels. The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey and several Western countries, waged a decades-long conflict but announced plans to disband its armed wing earlier this year, raising hopes for peace.