Latest news with #OperationClaw-Lock
Rudaw Net
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
President Barzani sends condolences to Turkey over soldiers' deaths
Also in Kurdistan Tribal loyalists clash with Kurdish security forces over land dispute in Erbil Kurdish smuggler leads Raparin youth migration via Libya-Italy route PKK changes disarmament plan over security reasons PKK disarmament ceremony set for Friday in Sulaimani: DEM Party A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Tuesday extended his condolences to Turkey following the deaths of 12 Turkish soldiers who succumbed to methane gas exposure in the northern Duhok province, according to a statement from the Region's presidency. In a letter addressed to Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler, President Barzani expressed "his heartfelt condolences to Türkiye and to the families of the soldiers who tragically lost their lives, as well as to those who were injured in an incident that occurred on Sunday in a cave within the mountainous areas of the Kurdistan Region." The Kurdistan Region President also wished a swift recovery to the injured and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between both sides "to foster peace and uphold security and stability in the region." On Monday, Turkey's Defense Ministry announced that 12 soldiers had died after exposure to methane gas inside a cave in Duhok. The troops were reportedly attempting to retrieve the body of a Turkish lieutenant who was killed in 2022 during Operation Claw-Lock - a military campaign by Ankara targeting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK has been engaged in a decades-long conflict with the Turkish state that has claimed over 40,000 lives - mainly PKK fighters. In recent months, Turkey's main pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) has stepped up efforts to mediate a resolution. On Sunday, the party expressed its condolences over the soldiers' deaths, lamenting that "the entire society is paying the price for the long-standing conflict and unresolved issues." That same day, DEM Party officials held a meeting with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. According to the party, Ocalan expressed being 'deeply concerned' by the incident that claimed the soldiers' lives. Founded in 1978, the PKK originally pursued an independent Kurdish state, but later shifted its demands toward greater political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. The group is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey and several of its Western allies.
Hans India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Turkey: 12 soldiers killed after being exposed to methane gas during rescue mission
Ankara: Turkey's Ministry of Defence on Monday said that 12 soldiers of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), who were affected by methane gas during a search operation conducted to find the remains of another Turkish soldier in a cave in northern Iraq, have died in the line of duty. "On July 6, 2025, in the Operation Claw-Lock region, four more of our heroic comrades-in-arms who were affected by methane gas were martyred in a search and screening operation carried out in a cave used by members of the separatist terrorist organisation at 852 Altitude Hill, and the number of martyred personnel increased to 12," the Ministry stated on X. It mentioned further that Turkey's Defence Minister Yaşar Guler went to the region with the TAF command level to conduct inspections and attend the farewell ceremonies of the soldiers who passed away in the incident. The ministry said that the incident took place on Sunday, when the rescue mission started to find the soldier's remains who was killed during a military operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Around 19 soldiers, who were exposed to the gas in the cave, were immediately rushed to the hospital for the required treatment, the ministry said. Although the cave was cleared by Turkish soldiers, it was known to have been used in the form of a hospital by the PKK in the past, being at an altitude of 852 metres (2795 feet). In May, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) had announced its decision to disband and disarm, ending the four-decade long conflict with Turkey. The decision came after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, in February urged the group to meet and formally decide to disband. The leader has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul, Turkey, since 1999. "The 12th PKK Congress has decided to dissolve the PKK's organisational structure and end its method of armed struggle. The process initiated by Leader Abdullah Ocalan's statement on February 27, and further shaped by his extensive work and multidimensional perspectives, culminated in the successful convening of our 12th Party Congress between May 5–7," read a statement from the group which was carried by pro-Kurdish news agency ANF. "Despite ongoing clashes, aerial and ground attacks, continued siege of our regions, and the KDP embargo, our congress was held securely under challenging conditions. Due to security concerns, it was conducted simultaneously in two different locations. With the participation of 232 delegates in total, the PKK 12th Congress discussed Leadership, Martyrs, Veterans, the Organizational Structure of the PKK and Armed Struggle, and Democratic Society Building, culminating in historic decisions marking the beginning of a new era for our Freedom Movement," the statement further said, according to ANF. The PKK, which is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for the last more than 30 years. Turkish security forces frequently conduct cross-border operations in northern Iraq, targeting PKK hideouts and bases.
Shafaq News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Death toll of Turkish soldiers in methane-filled cave reaches eight
Shafaq News – Ankara Three more Turkish soldiers died from methane gas poisoning in Iraq's Kurdistan Region, Turkiye's Defense Ministry reported on Monday. The soldiers were searching a cave once used by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as a medical shelter when they inhaled methane gas, the ministry stated, raising the death toll to eight from initial reports of five dead and 19 hospitalized. 6 Temmuz 2025 tarihinde, Pençe-Kilit Harekâtı bölgesinde 852 Rakımlı Tepe'de bölücü terör örgütü mensupları tarafından kullanılan bir mağarada icra edilen arama tarama faaliyetinde, metan gazından etkilenen üç kahraman silah arkadaşımız daha şehit olmuş, şehit olan personel… — T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) July 7, 2025 Fahrettin Altun, head of communications for the Turkish presidency, confirmed early evidence pointed to a natural methane leak, urging the public to rely on official sources and avoid misinformation. Pençe-Kilit Harekâtı kapsamında 28 Mayıs 2022 tarihinde yürütülen mağara arama-temizleme faaliyeti sırasında şehit olan kahraman subayımız Piyade Üsteğmen Nuri Melih Bozkurt'un naaşına ulaşmak amacıyla uzun süredir büyük bir dikkat ve kararlılıkla sürdürülen arama çalışmaları,… — Fahrettin Altun (@fahrettinaltun) July 6, 2025 The cave search was part of Operation Claw-Lock, launched in April 2022 to target PKK positions in Metina, Zap, and Avashin-Basyan. The PKK is designated a terrorist group by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union. The operation was also linked to ongoing efforts to locate the remains of First Lieutenant Nuri Melih Bozkurt, who was killed by PKK gunfire during a cave sweep on May 28, 2022. Despite extensive searches, his body has not yet been recovered. BASIN AÇIKLAMASIDeğerli Basın Mensupları,Pençe-Kilit Harekâtı kapsamında 28 Mayıs 2022 tarihinde icra edilen mağara arama-temizleme faaliyeti sırasında, teröristlerin açtığı ateş sonucu P. Ütğm. Nuri Melih Bozkurt şehit olmuş, yoğun ateş nedeniyle naaşına ulaşılamamıştır.… — T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) July 6, 2025
Rudaw Net
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Turkish soldier death toll from methane exposure in Kurdistan Region rises to eight
Also in Kurdistan Sulaimani town uses cameras, fines to curb littering Five Turkish officers killed due to methane gas exposure in Kurdistan Region Why did PKK pick Sulaimani for first disarmament? Turkey extends flight ban on Sulaimani again A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Three more Turkish soldiers died on Monday after being exposed to methane gas inside a cave during a search operation in the Kurdistan Region's Duhok province, the defense ministry announced, bringing the death toll to eight. Ankara on Sunday said that an initial five Turkish officers were killed by methane gas exposure inside a cave in Duhok province while attempting to recover the body of a Turkish officer 'killed by terrorists in 2022.' 'Three more of our heroic comrades-in-arms who were affected by methane gas were martyred, increasing the number of martyred personnel to eight,' the defense ministry said on Monday. It added that the cave was used by 'members of the separatist terrorist organization,' referring to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ankara has engaged in a decades-long conflict with that has claimed over 40,000 lives. In 2022, Ankara launched Operation Claw-Lock, targeting PKK positions in the northern Duhok province along the Turkish border. The stated aim of the operation was to cut off the PKK's access to mainland Turkey. On Sunday, Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), which has led a months-long initiative to resolve the deadly decades-long Turkey-PKK conflict, offered condolences over the deaths of the Turkish soldiers, lamenting that 'the entire society is paying the price for the long-standing conflict and unresolved issues.' Earlier in the day, DEM Party officials held a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. The pro-Kurdish party cited Ocalan as stating he was 'deeply concerned' by the deadly incident. Founded in 1978, the PKK initially sought an independent Kurdistan but later shifted its focus toward achieving broader political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. The group has been labeled a terrorist organization by Ankara and its allies.
Shafaq News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
5 Turkish soldiers killed by methane gas in Kurdistan
Shafaq News - Ankara Five Turkish soldiers were killed and 14 others injured by methane gas poisoning in Iraq's Kurdistan Region, Turkiye's Defense Ministry announced on Sunday. In a statement, the ministry revealed that the incident occurred during search and excavation efforts in a cave previously used by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) as a medical shelter for its wounded fighters. — T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) July 6, 2025 The cave search was part of Operation Claw-Lock, launched by Turkiye in April 2022 to target PKK positions in the Metina, Zap, and Avashin-Basyan areas of the Kurdistan Region. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union. The operation was also linked to ongoing efforts to locate the remains of First Lieutenant Nuri Melih Bozkurt, who was killed by PKK gunfire during a cave sweep on May 28, 2022. Despite extensive searches, his body has not yet been recovered. BASIN AÇIKLAMASIDeğerli Basın Mensupları,Pençe-Kilit Harekâtı kapsamında 28 Mayıs 2022 tarihinde icra edilen mağara arama-temizleme faaliyeti sırasında, teröristlerin açtığı ateş sonucu P. Ütğm. Nuri Melih Bozkurt şehit olmuş, yoğun ateş nedeniyle naaşına ulaşılamamıştır.… — T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) July 6, 2025 On Saturday, the pro-Kurdish DEM Party announced that a symbolic disarmament of the PKK would take place soon in the Kurdistan Region. The group had declared a ceasefire and intention to disarm in March, following a call by jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan to end its four-decade armed campaign.
