Eight Turkish soldiers have died after inhaling methane gas while searching a cave in northern Iraq, according to Türkiye’s defence ministry.
According to the ministry, the incident took place at a 852-metre-high hill in the Pençe-Kilit Operation area, where the soldiers were continuing efforts to locate the remains of Infantry Lieutenant Nuri Melih Bozkurt. He was killed during a firefight with terrorists in the same area on 28 May 2022.
Despite securing the region, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) had been unable to retrieve Bozkurt's body. Specially trained teams were conducting renewed searches when 19 personnel were exposed to high concentrations of methane gas inside a cave once used as a field hospital by the PKK. Five of the affected soldiers died despite all medical interventions. The remaining personnel are being treated in hospital.
The ministry said fully equipped TSK and AFAD teams are continuing coordinated rescue operations in the area.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his condolences. “I received the news of the martyrdom of our heroic soldiers with deep sorrow. I offer my condolences to their families, the Turkish Armed Forces, and our nation. I also wish a speedy recovery to those still under treatment.”
The fallen soldiers have been identified, and condolences were extended to the families of Private Contracted Soldiers Özkan Özkanlı, Ahmet Kuşak, and Lieutenant Ege Akar. Emotional scenes unfolded as news reached their homes in Aksaray, Balıkesir and İzmir.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş and Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz also issued condolence messages.
In a statement, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said, “This painful incident deeply saddened our nation. Citizens are advised to rely only on official sources and avoid misinformation.”
Azerbaijan's Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov also conveyed his condolences to his Turkish counterpart Yaşar Güler, affirming support for Türkiye in its fight against terrorism.
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The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can shape conflict and public perception.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his offer to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Ankara, at his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks took place on the sidelines of the international Forum for Peace and Trust in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday (12 December).
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday that Thai forces would continue military action along the Cambodia border until Bangkok believes there is no longer a threat to Thai territory or civilians.
U.S. stock markets closed lower at the end of the week, as investors continued to rotate out of technology shares, putting pressure on major indices.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that without concrete concessions from Russia, such as limiting its military forces or curbing its defence budget, new conflicts could erupt elsewhere, even if Ukraine receives security guarantees.
Multiple people were shot on Saturday at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, prompting an active shooter alert and a campus lockdown, city officials said.
The latest round of clashes between Thailand and Cambodia has left 15 Thai soldiers dead and 270 others injured, Thailand’s Ministry of Defence spokesman Surasant Kongsiri said at a press conference on Saturday.
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