Turkey said on Monday that a dozen soldiers died of methan gas poisoning while searching for a cave in northern Iraq for killing by Kurdish fighters three years ago.
The Ministry of Defense gave the early death of eight, but later instigated it.
The ministry said on X, “Four other people of our brave comrades have died in the weapons affected by methane gas … bringing the total number of victims to 12.”
Methane is a colorless, odorless, flammable gas that can cause asphyxia in afflicted concentration.
What else did Turkey say?
The ministry said on Sunday, “During a discovery operation in a cave … the first bees were used as a hospital … 19 of our personnel were in contact with Methane gas.”
It said that other soldiers in contact with gas in the cave were taken to the hospital for treatment.
The ministry said the incident took place in April 2022 in the “Clock-Lock Operation Area” in the reference to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or the operation against PKK, to clean the militants who were mixed in caves along with the border.
It said that the soldier who was being searched for the body, was “killed with terrorist bullets.”
Recovery teams are searching for the region from the previous three.
Long running with PKK
Türkiye and PKK have teased a 40 -year struggle that has often spread to Iraq and Syria, an estimated 40,000 people lost their lives.
The cave where the incident occurred is located at an altitude of 852 meters (2.795 ft) and was first used by PKK as a field hospital.
Recovery teams are searching for the region from the previous three.
Türkiye is currently struggling after ending the struggle with PKK, when the group agreed to stop their armed struggle.
Edited by: Elizabeth Shumacker
