Eight Turkish soldiers have died after being exposed to methane gas while conducting a search operation in a cave in northern Iraq, Turkey’s Ministry of Defence confirmed on Monday.

The incident occurred on Sunday as part of an ongoing mission to recover the body of a soldier previously killed during a military operation targeting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Türkiye designates as a terrorist organisation.

According to the ministry’s statement, the soldiers were operating in a mountainous region when they entered a cave believed to have been used by PKK fighters. The troops were exposed to toxic levels of methane gas while searching for the remains of their fallen comrade.

Eleven other soldiers affected by the gas have been taken to hospital for treatment. Their condition was not immediately disclosed.

The ministry expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the personnel and said an investigation into the incident was underway.

Turkish forces have been conducting cross-border operations against the PKK in northern Iraq for several years. The group has waged a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state, and thousands of lives have been lost on both sides.

No further details were provided about the specific location of the cave or the nature of the military operation. (ILKHA)