Ankara: Five Turkish soldiers were killed due to exposure to a “high concentration of accumulated methane gas” while searching a cave in northern Iraq for the remains of a fellow soldier killed by Kurdish militants in 2022, the Turkish Defence Ministry announced on Sunday. The incident underscores the ongoing dangers faced by Turkish forces in the region, where conflicts with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) have persisted for decades.

According to France24.com, the soldiers were conducting a search operation in a mountain cave when 19 of them encountered the colorless, odorless, flammable gas, which can cause asphyxiation in sufficient concentration. Although the soldiers were immediately transported to the hospital, five of them succumbed to the gas exposure despite all medical interventions, the ministry stated.

The office of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that the soldiers were exposed to a high concentration of accumulated methane gas. Rescue operations in the area are still ongoing as authorities work to ensure the safety of other personnel involved in the mission.

The incident occurs against the backdrop of a 40-year conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which has frequently extended into Iraq and Syria. Turkey has established a series of military bases in northern Iraq, where the PKK has maintained a presence for many years. In a significant development, the PKK announced in May its intentions to disband and renounce armed conflict, marking a new peace initiative with Turkey. The group’s fighters are expected to begin surrendering their weapons in the coming days, signaling a potential shift toward disarmament.