Ankara: Five Turkish soldiers were tragically killed after being exposed to a high concentration of accumulated methane gas while conducting a search in a cave in northern Iraq. The search was aimed at recovering the remains of a fellow soldier who was killed by Kurdish militants in 2022, as announced by the Turkish Defence Ministry on Sunday.

According to France24.com, the incident occurred when 19 soldiers were searching a mountain cave and were exposed to methane gas. This gas, which is colorless, odorless, and flammable, can cause asphyxiation when present in sufficient concentration. Despite immediate transportation to the hospital and extensive medical interventions, five soldiers succumbed to the exposure.

The Turkish Defence Ministry further stated in a release that rescue operations are ongoing in the area. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office confirmed that the soldiers encountered a high concentration of accumulated methane gas during their mission.

This tragic event is set against the backdrop of a long-standing conflict between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has spanned 40 years and often extended into Iraq and Syria. Turkey has established several military bases in northern Iraq, where the PKK has maintained a presence for decades.

In a significant development earlier this year, the PKK announced its intention to disband and renounce armed conflict as part of a new peace initiative with Turkey. The organization's fighters are expected to begin surrendering their weapons in the coming days, marking a concrete step toward disarmament.