ISTANBUL — On July 8, people across Türkiye gathered to honor twelve soldiers who lost their lives from methane gas exposure during a cave operation in northern Iraq. Funeral prayers and ceremonies were held in cities including Istanbul, Kayseri, Malatya, and Balıkesir, drawing thousands of mourners.
Ten soldiers were laid to rest in their hometowns on Monday, while the remaining two were scheduled for burial later the same day. Families of the fallen raised Turkish flags outside their homes, and flag-draped coffins were carried by solemn crowds expressing national grief and solidarity.
The deadly incident occurred on July 6 during a mission connected to Operation Claw Lock, Türkiye’s ongoing military campaign against the PKK in northern Iraq. The soldiers were searching for the body of First Lieutenant Nuri Melih Bozkurt, who was killed in May 2022. During the operation, troops entered a cave where 19 of them were exposed to toxic methane gas. Twelve lost their lives.
Among the deceased was First Lieutenant Ege Akar, 26, who led the unit assigned to recover his fallen comrade. Private Özkan Özkanlı, 25, an orphan himself, had been quietly donating part of his salary to support orphaned students. Private Celalettin Uyanık, 24, had left behind a recorded message reciting Quranic verses, asking his brothers-in-arms to share it publicly should he die in service.
The PKK, which Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union classify as a terrorist organization, remains the target of Türkiye’s cross-border military operations.
As the nation mourns, stories of bravery, compassion, and sacrifice continue to emerge from the lives of the fallen soldiers, reflecting the human cost behind the headlines and the enduring sense of duty held by those in uniform.