2025 Metina cave poisonings
| 2025 Chemical incident | |
|---|---|
| Part of Kurdish-Turkish conflict,Operation Claw-Lock | |
| Location | Metina,Iraq,Kurdistan |
| Date | 6-7 July 2025 |
Attack type | Chemical,Methane,Poison |
| Deaths | Totally : 12 soldiers dead |
Injured | 14-19 soldiers injured |
| Victims |  Turkish Armed Forces |
The methane incident in the Metina cave occurred on July 6 and 7, 2025 in northern Iraq, in the mountainous region of Metina, under the control of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The event resulted in the death of 12 Turkish soldiers and 14-19 injured, following methane gas poisoning that occurred during a military operation as part of Operation Claw-Lock.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Reactions
[change | change source]The Turkish Ministry of Defence expressed its condolences and praised the courage of the soldiers. A military investigation has been opened to determine the precise circumstances of the methane buildup in the cave.
Criticism has also emerged on the preparedness and safety of troops operating in potentially dangerous underground areas.
The PKK, for its part, did not claim or comment on the incident, not being directly involved in the deaths.
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Methane gas inside northern Iraq cave kills 12 Turkish soldiers.
- ↑ 12 Turkish soldiers die from methane gas in Iraqi cave while searching for remains of comrade killed by militants.
- ↑ Methane gas kills 12 Turkish soldiers in Iraq operation.
- ↑ Twelve Turkish soldiers killed by gas exposure during cave search in Iraq.
- ↑ 12 Turkish soldiers die from methane poisoning in Iraq: What to know.
- ↑ Turkish soldiers die of methane gas poisoning in Iraq.
