Latest news with #methanegas
Arab News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan expresses solidarity as 12 Turkish soldiers die in Iraq cave gas incident
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday said it was saddened over the deaths of 12 Turkish soldiers who were killed after being exposed to methane gas during a military search operation in northern Iraq, offering condolences and reaffirming solidarity with Turkiye. According to the Turkish defense ministry, the incident occurred on Sunday during a mission to locate the remains of a soldier killed earlier in operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union. The soldiers were operating in the Claw-Lock Operation zone, part of a broader Turkish cross-border military campaign launched in April 2022 to root out PKK fighters from northern Iraq's mountainous terrain. The ministry said several other soldiers exposed to methane gas in the same cave were hospitalized for treatment. 'We are deeply saddened to learn that 12 Turkish soldiers were martyred, after being exposed to methane gas during a search mission in the Claw-Lock Operation zone,' the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. 'We wish Allah's mercy upon the martyrs and express deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Pakistan stands in firm solidarity with brotherly Turkiye in this moment of grief.' While fatal gas exposure incidents in combat zones are relatively rare, the risk of methane buildup in enclosed or underground spaces such as caves or tunnels is well documented in both military and mining contexts. Methane is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas that can displace oxygen, leading to suffocation in confined environments. In past years, Turkish forces have reported discovering elaborate tunnel networks used by PKK fighters in northern Iraq, often rigged with explosives or hazardous substances. In 2021, three Turkish soldiers were killed in a suspected chemical exposure during clashes in a cave complex in the same region, though Turkish authorities did not publicly confirm the substance involved. The latest incident underscores the continuing dangers faced by Turkish troops deployed in high-risk terrain as part of ongoing security operations. Turkiye has maintained a network of military bases in Iraq's Kurdistan region for years, a policy that has drawn criticism from Baghdad but is defended by Ankara as necessary for national defense. Pakistan and Turkiye share close defense and diplomatic ties, with regular high-level exchanges and joint military cooperation. Islamabad has consistently voiced support for Ankara's security concerns, including its fight against the PKK.
LBCI
07-07-2025
- LBCI
Twelve Turkish soldiers killed by gas exposure during cave search in Iraq
Twelve Turkish soldiers died after being exposed to methane gas during a search operation in a cave in northern Iraq, the defense ministry said on Monday. In a statement, the ministry said the incident took place on Sunday during a mission to locate the remains of a Turkish soldier killed during a military operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Other soldiers also exposed to the gas in the cave have been taken to the hospital for treatment, the ministry said. Reuters
Asharq Al-Awsat
07-07-2025
- Health
- Asharq Al-Awsat
7 more Turkish Soldiers Die from Methane Gas in Iraqi Cave, Raising Deaths to 12
Seven more Turkish soldiers have died from methane gas poisoning following a cave search operation in northern Iraq, Türkiye's Defense Ministry said Monday, bringing the death toll to 12. The soldiers had been searching for the remains of a fellow soldier previously killed by Kurdish militants. The troops were searching a mountain cave when 19 of them were exposed to the gas, according to the ministry. Five of the soldiers died Sunday from the colorless, odorless, flammable gas that can cause asphyxiation in sufficient concentration, and seven more succumbed on Monday, Reuters reported. 'We pray for God's mercy upon our heroic martyrs who lost their lives in this tragic event,' the ministry said Monday, also expressing hope for a rapid recovery for other troops that were affected. It said Defense Minister Yasar Guler and armed forces' commanders were traveling to the region to carry out 'inspections and evaluations' and attend a ceremony as the soldiers were flown to their hometowns for burial. Speaking at the ceremony, Guler commended the troops' 'great courage and sacrifice,' adding: 'Our grief is immense and our feelings are beyond words.' The ministry said the incident took place in the 'Claw-Lock Operation region' — a reference to an operation launched against the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in northern Iraq in April 2022. There was no immediate information on the condition of the seven other soldiers who were affected by the gas. Türkiye and the PKK have waged a 40-year conflict that has often spilled over into Iraq and Syria. Türkiye has set up a series of bases in northern Iraq, where the PKK has been established for decades. The PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by Türkiye and most of the West, announced in May that it would disband and renounce armed conflict as part of a new peace initiative with Türkiye. Its fighters are expected to begin handing over their weapons over the next few days in the first concrete move toward disarmament. According to the ministry, the Turkish unit overcome by methane gas had been searching for the remains of an infantry officer killed by 'terrorist gunfire' during a search-and-clear mission in May 2022. Recovery teams have been scouring the area for the past three years. The cave where the incident occurred sits at an altitude of 852 meters (2,795 feet) and had previously been used by the PKK as a field hospital.
Al Jazeera
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Methane gas inside northern Iraq cave kills 12 Turkish soldiers
Twelve Turkish soldiers have died after inhaling methane gas during a mission in northern Iraq, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence says. 'Four other of our heroic comrades in arms, affected by methane gas, have died … bringing the total number of victims to 12,' the ministry said in a post on X on Monday. According to it, the incident took place on Sunday as troops searched for the remains of a soldier killed by fighters belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in 2022. PKK has been labelled a terrorist group by Turkiye, the European Union and the United States. It fought for Kurdish autonomy for years, a fight that has been declared over now. Nineteen soldiers were exposed to the gas inside a site once used by armed fighters as a hospital. The condition of the remaining seven soldiers was not clear immediately. 'I wish a speedy recovery for our heroes affected by methane gas,' Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on X. The soldiers were conducting a sweep operation inside a cave at an altitude of 852 metres (2,795 feet) in the Metina region, part of Turkiye's ongoing Operation Claw-Lock targeting the PKK positions in northern Iraq. Though the gas is not considered toxic, methane can become deadly in confined spaces due to suffocation risks. The ministry has not clarified how the gas accumulated inside the cave. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his 'great sorrow' over the incident and extended condolences to the families of the fallen. Defence Minister Yasar Guler travelled to the area to oversee inspections and attend ceremonies for the deceased. News of the deaths emerged as a delegation from the pro-Kurdish DEM party was visiting jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan as part of the ongoing negotiations with the Turkish government. The decades-long conflict between Ankara and the PKK has killed more than 40,000 people since 1984.
CBS News
07-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
12 Turkish soldiers die from methane gas in Iraqi cave while searching for remains of comrade killed by militants
What we know about Turkey's strikes in Iraq, Syria Seven more Turkish soldiers have died from methane gas poisoning following a cave search operation in northern Iraq, Turkey's Defense Ministry said Monday, bringing the death toll to 12. The soldiers had been searching for the remains of a fellow soldier previously killed by Kurdish militants. The troops were searching a mountain cave when 19 of them were exposed to the gas, according to the ministry. Five of the soldiers died Sunday from the colorless, odorless, flammable gas that can cause asphyxiation in sufficient concentration, and seven more succumbed on Monday. "We pray for God's mercy upon our heroic martyrs who lost their lives in this tragic event," the ministry said Monday, also expressing hope for a rapid recovery for other troops that were affected. It said Defense Minister Yasar Guler and armed forces' commanders were traveling to the region to carry out "inspections and evaluations" and attend funeral ceremonies. The ministry said the incident took place in the "Claw-Lock Operation region" - a reference to an operation launched against the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in northern Iraq in April 2022. The ministry posted video on social media showing six of the dead soldiers being transported back to their hometowns. Millî Savunma Bakanı Yaşar Güler'in beraberinde TSK Komuta Kademesi ile katıldığı Yüksekova Selahaddin Eyyübi Havalimanındaki törende, Pençe-Kilit Harekâtı bölgesinde şehit düşen altı kahraman silah arkadaşımızın naaşları defnedilmek üzere memleketlerine uğurlandı.… — T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) July 7, 2025 "The bodies of our six heroic comrades who were martyred in the Claw-Lock Operation region were sent to their hometowns for burial," the ministry wrote on X. There was no immediate information on the condition of the seven other soldiers who were affected by the gas. The did not explain the origin of the methane gas in the caves. Turkey and the PKK have waged a 40-year conflict that has often spilled over into Iraq and Syria. Turkey has set up a series of bases in northern Iraq, where the PKK has been established for decades. The PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and most of the West, announced in May that it would disband and renounce armed conflict as part of a new peace initiative with Turkey. Its fighters are expected to begin handing over their weapons over the next few days in the first concrete move toward disarmament. According to the ministry, the Turkish unit overcome by methane gas had been searching for the remains of an infantry officer killed by "terrorist gunfire" during a search-and-clear mission in May 2022. Recovery teams have been scouring the area for the past three years. The cave where the incident occurred sits at an altitude of 2,795 feet and had previously been used by the PKK as a field hospital. News of the soldiers' deaths emerged as a delegation from the pro-Kurdish DEM party was visiting jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan as part of the ongoing negotiations with the Turkish government. Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.
