Methane gas martyrs Mahsun Yeşildemir and Abdurrahman Akdoğan were sent on their final journey

Two of the 12 soldiers who were martyred after being exposed to methane gas during a search and screening operation in a cave in the Operation Claw-Lock region were sent on their final journeys with ceremonies held in their hometowns of Bitlis and Malatya.

Contracted Infantry Private Mahsun Yeşildemir, who was martyred due to methane gas, was laid to rest with a ceremony held in his hometown, Adilcevaz district of Bitlis.

Bitlis Governor Ahmet Karakaya, military officials, the martyr's family and citizens attended the funeral ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Karakaya said, “Today, I kiss the hands of our martyr’s mother and father for raising such a good child for our country, and I also express my gratitude to his siblings.”

A funeral ceremony was held for Martyr Infantry Non-Commissioned Officer Senior Sergeant Abdurrahman Akdoğan at the Orta Mosque in the Pütürge district of Malatya.

The ceremony held after the afternoon prayer was attended by the martyr's mother Sabahat Akdoğan, his father Remzi Akdoğan, Malatya Governor Seddar Yavuz, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ahmet Bağcı, 2nd Army Chief of Staff and Garrison Commander Major General Erman Kiraz, Malatya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Sami Er, political party and municipality representatives, civil society organizations, military and civil officials and many citizens.

The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) announced that 19 soldiers were exposed to methane gas during a search operation in a cave on a hill with an altitude of 852 meters in the Claw-Lock Operation region in northern Iraq.

According to the statement made by the Ministry of National Defence, the soldiers affected by the gas were immediately taken to the hospital. Despite all interventions, 5 soldiers lost their lives. In a second statement made later, it was reported that the number of martyrs had increased to 8. In the latest statement, the number of martyrs had increased to 12.

According to AA , the search operation in question was being carried out in order to find the body of Infantry First Lieutenant Nuri Melih Bozkurt, who was martyred on May 28, 2022. Bozkurt was martyred as a result of fire opened in the same region, but his body could not be found at that time due to intense conflict.

As part of the search efforts carried out by special teams, an operation was carried out in the cave, which was determined to have been used as a hospital before.

According to initial findings, the incident occurred due to methane gas accumulating naturally inside the cave. 19 soldiers were exposed to the intense gas accumulation and all were urgently referred to health centers.

In the second statement made on the social media account of the Ministry of National Defense, the following information was given: “On July 6, 2025, in the Operation Claw-Lock region, in the 852 Altitude Hill search and sweep operation carried out in a cave used by members of the separatist terrorist organization, three more of our heroic comrades-in-arms who were affected by methane gas were martyred, and the number of martyred personnel increased to eight.”

The identities of some of the martyred soldiers and information about their families were shared. News was delivered to the family of Ammunition Chief Warrant Officer Senior Sergeant Abdurrahman Akdoğan in the Pütürge district of Malatya.

Contracted Infantry Private Özkan Özkanlı's family in Aksaray was also notified. The news of martyrdom of 26-year-old First Lieutenant Ege Akar was conveyed to his family in Buca, Izmir. It was learned that his family had a military background.

The news of the martyrdom of Contracted Infantry Private Ahmet Kuşak (23) was given to his family in the Kepsut district of Balıkesir. It was determined that the martyr was single and had 5 siblings.

Turkish flags were hung on the buildings where the families of the martyrs lived. Officials such as Malatya Governor Seddar Yavuz and Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Sami Er visited the families.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shared a condolence message on his social media account. Erdoğan said, “I wish God’s mercy upon our heroic soldiers who risked their lives to serve for the security of Türkiye and the peace of the Turkish nation, and I offer my condolences to their families, loved ones and the Turkish Armed Forces.”

TBMM Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş also issued a condolence message. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and cabinet members shared separate condolence messages.

(ANKA)