Ankara: Twelve Turkish soldiers died after being exposed to methane gas during a search operation in northern Iraq, the Turkish National Defense Ministry reported on Monday. The soldiers were conducting a sweep operation in a cave at an altitude of 852 meters (2,795 feet) used by militants of the outlawed PKK terror group in the Operation Claw-Lock zone when the incident occurred on Sunday, the ministry said in a statement.

According to Anadolu Agency, Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler traveled to the area to conduct inspections and attend ceremonies honoring the fallen soldiers. The ministry expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and the nation, and wished a swift recovery to those affected by the incident.

In an earlier statement, the ministry noted that the incident occurred during a mission to locate the remains of a Turkish soldier killed by PKK terrorists in 2022. It was also reported that 19 personnel were affected by the gas exposure.

PKK terrorists frequently hide in northern Iraq to plan cross-border attacks against Trkiye. To combat this threat, Trkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in 2022, targeting PKK hideouts in northern Iraq's Metina, Zap, and Avasin-Basyan regions. The PKK, which has waged a 40-year terror campaign against Trkiye, is classified as a terrorist organization by Trkiye, the US, and the EU. The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK.