Azerbaijan’s defense minister offers condolences to Turkey over soldier deaths

Azerbaijani Defense Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov extended condolences to his Turkish counterpart Yaşar Güler following the deaths of five Turkish soldiers during an anti-terror operation.

According to Turkish authorities, the incident occurred on July 6 during the recovery of the remains of a Turkish officer killed in 2022 in the Pençe-Kilit operation zone. Nineteen soldiers were affected by methane gas inside a cave, resulting in five fatalities and multiple hospitalizations.

“Your pain is our pain. We stand firmly with the Turkish Armed Forces in the fight against terrorism and fully support you,” Hasanov said in a letter.

He expressed sympathy to the families of the fallen soldiers and wished a speedy recovery to those receiving treatment.