06.07.2025 18:30
During a search-and-rescue operation in a cave in the Pençe-Kilit Operation area in Iraq, five of our soldiers were martyred due to exposure to methane gas. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, and other ministers issued condolence messages. Additionally, a condolence message was shared from President Erdoğan.
Many politicians issued condolence messages for our 5 soldiers who were martyred after being exposed to methane gas during a search and rescue operation in a cave in the Pençe-Kilit Operation area.
Turkey has been struck by the pain of martyrdom. 5 of our soldiers were martyred after being exposed to methane gas during a search and rescue operation in a cave in the Pençe-Kilit Operation area in Iraq.
CONDOLENCE MESSAGES FROM POLITICIANS
Following the sad news, many politicians issued condolence messages for our martyred soldiers. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, in his statement regarding the matter, said, "I pray for God's mercy on our heroic Mehmetçiks who were martyred after being exposed to methane gas during a search and rescue operation in a cave in the Pençe-Kilit Operation area; I wish patience to their families, comrades, and loved ones. I pray for the quick recovery of our Mehmetçiks who are undergoing treatment. May our nation's head be healthy."
ALI YERLİKAYA: I WISH CONDOLENCES TO OUR HEROIC ARMY
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, in his message, stated, "May our nation's head be healthy. In the Pençe-Kilit Operation area, during a search and rescue operation in a cave at an altitude of 852 meters on July 6, 2025, 19 of our heroic Mehmetçiks were exposed to methane gas. Our Mehmetçiks were immediately transferred to health centers, but unfortunately, 5 of them could not be saved despite all interventions and were martyred. I pray for God's mercy on our heroic sons who were martyred while searching for the body of our hero Infantry Lieutenant Nuri Melih Bozkurt, who was martyred on May 28, 2022, and I wish condolences to our grieving nation and heroic army. May the ranks of our martyrs be exalted. Rescue operations in the region continue with the coordinated efforts of fully equipped AFAD and TSK teams," he said.
MURAT KURUM: MAY THEIR PLACES BE PARADISE, MAY THEIR RANKS BE EXALTED
Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum stated, "We are saddened by the news from the Pençe-Kilit Operation area. May our head be healthy. I pray for God's mercy on our heroic martyrs and wish patience to their grieving families. May their places be paradise, and their ranks be exalted."
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar also stated, "I pray for God's mercy on our heroic Mehmetçiks who were martyred after being exposed to methane gas during a search and rescue operation in the Pençe-Kilit Operation area, and I wish patience and condolences to their grieving families. May our noble nation's head be healthy."
VEDAT IŞIKHAN: MAY OUR NOBLE NATION'S HEAD BE HEALTHY
Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan stated, "I pray for God's mercy on our heroic Mehmetçiks who were martyred while undergoing treatment in the hospital after being exposed to methane gas during a search and rescue operation in the Pençe-Kilit Operation area. I wish condolences to their valuable families and loved ones. I wish quick recovery to our heroic Mehmetçiks who were affected by the gas. May our noble nation's head be healthy," he said.
Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat also stated, "I pray for God's mercy on the five heroic Mehmetçiks who were martyred after being hospitalized due to exposure to methane gas during a search and rescue operation in the Pençe-Kilit Operation area, and I wish condolences and patience to their grieving families. May our heroic army and noble nation's head be healthy."
YILMAZ TUNÇ AND AŞKIN BAK ALSO SENT CONDOLENCES
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç stated, "I pray for God's mercy on our heroic soldiers who were martyred after being exposed to methane gas during the search operations to reach the sacred body of Infantry Lieutenant Nuri Melih Bozkurt, who was martyred in 2022 in the Pençe-Kilit Operation. I wish quick recovery to our injured soldiers. I wish patience to the grieving families of our heroes who were martyred in this tragic event that has broken our hearts as a nation. May the souls of our martyrs be blessed, and their ranks be exalted. May our nation's head be healthy," he said.
Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak also stated, "I pray for God's mercy on our heroic soldiers who were martyred in the Pençe-Kilit Operation area, and I wish condolences to their families and our noble nation. May their souls be blessed, and their places be paradise."
İBRAHİM YUMAKLI: I WISH PATIENCE TO THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated, "I pray for God's mercy on the 5 heroic Mehmetçiks who were martyred after being exposed to methane gas during a search operation in a cave aimed at finding the body of our heroic Mehmetçik Infantry Lieutenant Nuri Melih Bozkurt, who was martyred in the operation conducted on May 28, 2022. I wish patience to their families and loved ones. I wish quick recovery to the Mehmetçiks affected by the incident."
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdülkadir Uraloğlu stated, "I pray for God's mercy on the 5 heroic Mehmetçiks who were martyred after being exposed to methane gas during a search operation in a cave aimed at finding the body of our heroic Mehmetçik Infantry Lieutenant Nuri Melih Bozkurt, who was martyred in the operation conducted on May 28, 2022. I wish patience to their families and loved ones. I wish quick recovery to the Mehmetçiks affected by the incident," he said.
Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş stated, "I pray for God's mercy on our heroic Mehmetçiks who were martyred after being exposed to methane gas during the search and rescue operations in the Pençe-Kilit Operation area, and I wish patience to their families. May our nation's head be healthy," he said.
ÖZGÜR ÖZEL: MAY OUR COUNTRY'S HEAD BE HEALTHY
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, in a statement on his social media account, said, "Our hearts are broken. I pray for God's mercy on the 5 Mehmetçiks who were martyred due to methane gas poisoning in the Pençe-Kilit Operation area, and I wish patience to their families and our nation. I wish quick recovery to the soldiers who are still undergoing treatment. May our country's head be healthy."