The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) announced that four more soldiers who were exposed to methane and Decarbonoxide gas during a search and dredging activity in a cave in the mountainous area of northern Iraq on July 6 lost their lives.

Thus, the number of soldiers who lost their lives increased to 12.

The statement from the ministry stated that the soldiers were in the cave on May 28, 2022, for the search for the body of a soldier who died during Operation Claw-Lock.

The statement dated July 6 included the following statements:
“During the cave search and cleaning operation carried out on May 28, 2022, P. Lt. Nuri Melih Bozkurt was martyred as a result of fire opened by terrorists, and his body could not be reached due to heavy fire.” The area has been taken under control, the terrorists have been neutralized, but despite all searches, the body of our martyr has not yet been found.”In the first statement made by the ministry, it was announced that 19 soldiers were exposed to methane gas and all of them were hospitalized, five soldiers could not be saved despite all interventions.

In two separate statements made on the ministry’s social media account on July 7, it was noted that first three soldiers and then four more soldiers lost their lives.

Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler said in a press statement at the farewell ceremony for the soldiers in Yüksekova that the soldiers were “affected by methane and carbon monoxide gas.”

Turkey announced that it had launched Operation Claw-Lock against the PKK in northern Iraq on April 18, 202.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel argued that there was “a great negligence and irresponsibility” in the deaths of the soldiers.

Speaking in Bolu, Özel said, “Our hearts are burning, we cannot accept this.”