Twelve Turkish soldiers died from methane gas exposure while searching a cave in northern Iraq’s Metina region during "Operation Claw-Lock," Turkey’s Defense Ministry confirmed Monday. The troops were recovering remains of Lt. Nuri Melih Bozkurt, killed by Kurdish PKK militants in 2022. Nineteen soldiers were exposed to the colorless, odorless gas, initially killing five on Sunday, with seven more succumbing by Monday. Seven others remain hospitalized in critical condition. Defense Minister Yasar Guler attended repatriation ceremonies, calling the loss "beyond words".
The deaths occurred amid delicate peace negotiations between Turkey and the PKK, which announced in May it would disband and renounce armed struggle after 40 years of conflict costing 40,000 lives. Hours before the incident, pro-Kurdish DEM Party lawmakers met jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, who endorsed their "historic" talks with President Erdoğan to finalize disarmament. Öcalan emphasized that parliamentary oversight would "direct the peace and solution". The PKK is slated to begin surrendering weapons in Iraq this week under Turkish intelligence monitoring.
Opposition leaders and military experts condemned the operation’s planning. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel cited "gross negligence," noting soldiers entered a confined PKK field hospital cave, known for methane risks without gas detectors, protective gear, or unmanned drones. Retired Gen. Haldun Solmaztürk called the mass poisoning "unheard of," demanding transparency. Former AKP official Mustafa Öztürk stressed that basic methane detectors cost just 1,000 lira ($30), while the Turkish Medical Association urged an independent inquiry into safety failures.
While the Defense Ministry attributed the gas to "natural causes," the incident risks eroding Kurdish-Turkish reconciliation. DEM Party officials, key mediators warned that unresolved accountability could fuel tensions as disarmament begins. Erdoğan’s government faces dual pressure: honoring fallen soldiers while ensuring the tragedy doesn’t derail Öcalan’s peace framework, which DEM calls "transformative for Turkey’s democracy".