10.07.2025 13:21
The Ministry of National Defense shared details about the incident involving our 12 soldiers who were martyred due to exposure to methane gas. Initially, a search was conducted with a reconnaissance dog, and it was determined that the structure had a second level. After no negative findings were detected, 12 personnel entered the cave. During the search on the second level, some of the soldiers in the front fainted, prompting the team at the back to exit and call for help.
In the cave located at 852 Elevation Hill in the Pençe-Kilit Operation area in northern Iraq, 19 soldiers searching for the remains of First Lieutenant Nuri Melih Bozkurt, who was martyred in 2022, were exposed to methane gas the other day. Five of the soldiers who were transferred to the hospital could not be saved despite all interventions on the first day and were martyred. The Ministry of National Defense announced the next day that seven more soldiers had been martyred. Thus, the number of martyrs had risen to 12.
HOW THE INCIDENT OCCURRED
The Ministry of National Defense shared the following information regarding the incident in which 12 of our heroic soldiers were martyred in the Pençe-Kilit Operation Area;
As part of the Pençe Series Operations launched in northern Iraq in 2019, a total of 3,765 caves/shelters have been successfully identified, searched, and destroyed, and there has been no incident of gas exposure other than this incident that has occurred to date.
Additionally, while our activities to detect and destroy caves, shelters, and tunnels in the operation areas continue, search efforts for our martyrs whose sacred remains have not been reached have been carried out uninterruptedly.
In this context;
- The remains of P. Uzm. Çvş. Mustafa BAZNA, who was martyred on November 3, 2022, were reached on January 29, 2025,
- The remains of P. Uzm. Çvş. Nurettin TOKYÜREK, who was martyred on July 7, 2022, were reached on March 26, 2025.
- The search for the remains of P. Ütğm. Nuri Melih BOZKURT, who was martyred in the Pençe-Kilit Operation Area on May 28, 2022, has been ongoing since the very first moment.
The cave where the incident occurred at 852 elevation was cleared of terrorist organization members on June 23-24, 2024, and all entrances and loopholes of the cave were closed.
The search for our martyr's remains was continued in the cave at 852 elevation starting from July 1, 2025, upon receiving intelligence.
In the mentioned cave, between July 1-5, a search operation was conducted on the first floor primarily with a reconnaissance dog, followed by the Mine and Improvised Explosive Device Detection and Disposal Team, and it was determined that there was a second floor in a stepped and tiered structure.
On July 6, the day of the incident, reconnaissance was conducted again with a dog before entering the cave, and after no negative findings were detected, a total of 12 personnel entered the cave in three groups (6+4+2).
During the search operation on the second floor, which was identified a day earlier, some of our advancing elements experienced staggering and fainting, prompting the contact and safety team at the back (2 people) to exit and request help. Five personnel outside immediately entered the cave to rescue their comrades upon the call for help, and some of those who entered also experienced staggering and fainting.
Subsequently, our 12 personnel outside entered the cave in pairs to try to evacuate the personnel affected by the gas.
Except for the 7 comrades at the front, all personnel affected by the gas were evacuated outside thanks to the sacrifices of the personnel on the search operation and were immediately transferred to the hospital by air; despite all interventions, 5 heroic comrades were martyred.
Since this was a situation encountered for the first time, support was requested from expert search and rescue teams affiliated with AFAD and the Turkish Hard Coal Institution.
Measurements made by expert teams detected carbon monoxide, methane, and hydrogen sulfide gases inside the cave, and after it was determined that the oxygen level had dropped to 19%, oxygen was pumped into the cave with fans. After the oxygen level was raised to 60%, the expert teams from the Turkish Hard Coal Institution reached the remains of our 7 heroic comrades who were martyred. We would like to once again thank the personnel of AFAD, UMKE, and the Turkish Hard Coal Institution for their dedicated efforts in the evacuation of our martyrs.
RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS REFLECTED IN THE PUBLIC
Regarding the claims in the media and social media;
- All of our personnel affected by the gas entered the cave at the same time,
- They were lacking in their operational equipment and did not have gas masks,
- A collapse occurred inside the cave, it was a trap, and there were chemical gases,
- There were comrades who were martyred or injured by shrapnel,
- These allegations are completely unfounded.
DISINFORMATION AND EFFORTS TO DISPARAGE THE TSK
This incident we experienced developed as an exceptional, unpredictable, and extraordinary situation, resulting in an unwanted outcome that deeply hurt all of us.
There should be no doubt that additional measures will be taken following this rare incident, and all processes will be meticulously reviewed to ensure that similar pains are not experienced again.
The administrative investigation process initiated regarding this incident is ongoing, and the incident is being examined in detail from all aspects; the use of unmanned systems to identify the source of carbon monoxide, methane, and hydrogen sulfide gases found inside the cave is also continuing.
At this stage of the ongoing investigation, it is important for the public to only trust the statements made by official authorities. The results of the administrative investigation will be shared with the public after its completion.
Without waiting for the official statements made and to be made, and before the completion of the administrative investigation process, the insidious opportunistic news, shares, comments, and evaluations made with malicious intent regarding the subject are absolutely unacceptable.
Claims that are far from reality but presented with certainty and manipulative narratives and content that produce conspiracy theories are a systematic disinformation effort aimed at defaming and undermining the Turkish Armed Forces.
It should not be forgotten that these actions are, above all, an insult to our martyrs, the precious families of our martyrs, the Turkish Armed Forces, and our nation.
The heroic Turkish Armed Forces, which draw their strength from the love, trust, and prayers of the noble Turkish nation from which they emerged, will continue to be as open and transparent as never before regarding the events and developments that have occurred, to inform the public in a timely and accurate manner, and to be worthy of the strong trust that our people have in them, just as they have until now.
Once again, we pray for the souls of our martyred heroic comrades; we extend our condolences and patience to their grieving families, the Turkish Armed Forces, and our noble nation; and we wish a speedy recovery to our personnel who are still undergoing treatment.
NEW COMMANDS OF THE AIR FORCE HAVE BEEN OPENED
The Ministry of National Defense shared the following information about the newly established Air ARMERKOM and 403rd Squadron:
"Upon the instruction of our Minister, the Air Force Research Center Command and the 403rd Test Squadron Command were established by our Air Force Commander on July 4, 2025, near our Defense Industry at Mürted Air Base.
It has started its duties by opening at the campus of our Air Force Command in Çorlu.
In order to enhance the technological capabilities of our Air Force, implement national solutions that will work in integration with mission systems, and institutionalize the flight test competence for platform development of the Air Force Command, two new structures have officially commenced operations. The Research Center Command aims to create a scientific infrastructure that will guide the future air platforms through engineering and R&D studies that closely follow technological developments and current operational needs in international operational theaters; it also aims to conduct prototype production and laboratory system tests for the required systems.
The 403rd Test Flight Command will participate in the development and certification flight tests of national fighter jets such as KAAN and HÜRJET, developed by TUSAŞ, with Experimental Test Pilots and Flight Test Engineers, using the techniques and methods employed in state-affiliated test units in all aircraft-producing countries. With the support it will provide in the planning and execution phases, it will work in coordination with manufacturing companies in the processes of performance, safety, and operational capability validation.
Thanks to these two strategic units;
Our Air Force will contribute directly to the development process of systems as a technical decision-making authority, just like all international aircraft-producing countries, not only as a user.
Thus, the operational capability of our fighter jets will be enhanced, and deficiencies encountered during the development process can be addressed at earlier stages, before reaching the acceptance phase, with lower costs and in a shorter time.