Turkey’s Defence Ministry confirmed on Monday that 12 Turkish soldiers died and another seven remain hospitalised after methane gas accumulated suddenly in a cave complex in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region on Sunday, as reported by Turkey’s Defence Ministry. Troops operating near Zap-Metina border area when methane fumes entered an underground cavern, turning what had been planned as routine recovery task into one of their deadliest single incidents ever in northern Iraq this year.
Ministry officials reported that a special squad searching for remains of an infantry officer killed three years prior by Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) fighters was searching a cave carved into limestone hills at 852 metres elevation for remains. It had once served as a clandestine field hospital where methane could collect. Nineteen soldiers were exposed; five died immediately while seven succumbed after evacuation, bringing Monday’s total deaths to 12.
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Methane gas is colourless, odourless and heavier than air; in enclosed spaces it can quickly displace oxygen and lead to unconsciousness within seconds. Military engineers reported no weapon fire or explosion occurred prior to this incident, suggesting the gas pocket may have been released by dislodging a boulder or power-tooling through sealed chambers by troops. To evaluate any possibility of deliberate sabotage in future incidents forensic teams from TSK CBRN were flown in for analysis of air columns.
The cave lies within Turkey’s “Claw-Lock” operation zone–Turkey’s long-running cross-border campaign launched in April 2022 to drive PKK militants from mountainous hideouts along Iraqi frontier. Although Ankara rarely discloses battlefield losses, analysts note that fatal accidents in this region are far more prevalent than combat deaths, due to complex cave systems filled with natural gas, abandoned ammunition, and hidden booby-traps.
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Defense Minister Yasar Guler and senior commanders travelled to Sirnak on Monday, and visited both Diyarbakir and Ankara military hospitals where survivors are being treated for hypoxia. “Our heroic comrades fell not in battle but in faithful pursuit of one of their own,” Guler noted, vowing that once air monitors confirm safety in the cave system they would complete the recovery mission.
Turkish authorities have ordered all troops involved in subterranean searches to take part in a 48-hour safety stand-down, mandating portable methane detectors, twin-line respirators and ventilation drills before entering. While similar protocols exist for civilian mining operations, cave warfare often exceeds occupational-safety norms; Professor Ayse Cetinkaya of Istanbul Technical University noted “organic matter can quickly produce methane; without forced airflow concentrations may spike quickly,” which Prof. Cetinkaya noted as a geologist of his field of study.
This tragedy highlights political sensitivity surrounding Turkey’s presence in Iraq. Baghdad has repeatedly called for their withdrawal; Ankara maintains their operations are essential in stopping PKK incursions into Turkish territory. News of their deaths circulated widely on Kurdish social-media channels with some activists questioning why troops were still combing through caves three years after initial clashes began; officials assert repatriating fallen soldiers is “a sacred duty that cannot be scheduled”.
Although the PKK recently indicated its readiness to “transition to peaceful methods,” no formal cease-fire agreement has yet been signed. Sunday’s incident may provide new urgency into discussions, though observers warn of how losing 12 servicemen may harden Turkish public opinion further. For now, military engineers have sealed off the cave entrance until gas levels drop; search teams hope to resume searching later this week equipped not only with metal detectors and body bags but also portable air scrubbers.