Eight Turkiye soldiers killed by gas exposure during cave search in northern Iraq

ISTANBUL: Eight Turkiye soldiers died after being exposed to methane gas during a search operation in a cave in northern Iraq, the defence ministry said on Monday.

In a statement, the ministry said the incident took place on Sunday during a mission to locate the remains of a Turkiye soldier killed during a military operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

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Eleven other soldiers who are also exposed to the gas in the cave have been taken to the hospital for treatment, the ministry said.