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Farewell Ceremony for Fallen Turkish Soldiers
On July 7, 2025, a somber farewell ceremony took place at Selahaddin Eyyubi Airport in Yuksekova, Turkey, honoring the 12 soldiers who tragically lost their lives due to exposure to methane gas during a search operation in northern Iraq. This marks an increase from the previously reported toll of eight fatalities.
The incident comes at a delicate moment for Turkey, as ongoing negotiations aim to bring an end to the conflict with Kurdish groups, particularly following the PKK’s agreement to halt its years-long armed struggle. Since its onset in 1984, this conflict has resulted in over 40,000 casualties.
According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, the soldiers were searching for the remains of a fellow serviceman who was shot by Kurdish fighters in May 2022, with his body still unrecovered. “Four more of our brave comrades have succumbed to the effects of methane gas, raising the total number of fatalities to 12,” the ministry reported via social media platform X.
While the ministry indicated that 19 personnel had been exposed to the toxic gas in a cave previously utilized as a medical facility, details regarding the source of the methane remain unclear. The condition of the other seven soldiers affected has not been disclosed.
The tragic event unfolded as a delegation from the pro-Kurdish DEM party met with Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed founder of the PKK, who expressed his sorrow over the deaths—a rare act of empathy. “This incident has caused profound sadness for Mr. Ocalan and all of us,” said a statement from the delegation, extending condolences to the families of the deceased.
The soldiers’ fatalities occurred during Operation Claw Lock, a comprehensive operation launched in April 2022 aimed at eradicating PKK militants hiding in caves along the Turkish-Iraqi border.
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