Turkey’s defense ministry has denied allegations of negligence following the death of 12 Turkish soldiers due to gas exposure during a cave operation in northern Iraq, part of Ankara’s ongoing military campaign against Kurdish militants, the Anka news agency reported.
The soldiers were killed during a search inside a cave in the Metina region between July 1 and 5 where they were reportedly exposed to a combination of methane and carbon monoxide gases. The soldiers were searching for the remains of infantry Lt. Nuri Melih Bozkurt, who was killed in 2022 in the region during the Claw-Lock operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The incident has sparked widespread shock and public scrutiny in Turkey, especially as it did not involve a direct terrorist attack. Opposition politicians, including Özgür Özel, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), and military experts have questioned whether basic safety precautions, such as the use of gas masks, detection devices or unmanned equipment, could have prevented the deaths.
Speculation has also emerged over the true cause of death and whether the military might be concealing details to avoid reputational damage or political fallout amid efforts to end the decades-long armed conflict with the PKK.
In its statement on Thursday, the defense ministry dismissed all such allegations as baseless. It said the 19-member unit, of which only five survived, was properly equipped and had taken necessary safety measures before entering the cave.
The ministry strongly denied claims that soldiers entered the cave as a group without protective gear, that there was a collapse or a booby trap, or that chemical weapons were involved. It also refuted speculation that shrapnel caused any of the deaths or injuries.
“The incident was exceptional, unforeseeable and occurred under extraordinary circumstances,” the ministry said. “It resulted in an outcome that was deeply painful and entirely unintended.”
The ministry added that new safety protocols would be adopted and all operational procedures thoroughly reviewed to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
“No one should doubt that all necessary lessons will be drawn to ensure such sorrow is not repeated,” the statement said.
It also condemned what it described as a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the Turkish Armed Forces.
“Assertions lacking any basis in fact, presented with unwarranted certainty, and manipulative narratives amount to a coordinated attempt to weaken our military,” the ministry said.
The PKK, which is designated as a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies, recently announced plans to lay down arms as part of a peace process with the Turkish government. Turkish operations in northern Iraq, however, are continuing.