President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed profound sorrow over the loss and extended condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers and the Turkish Armed Forces. A farewell ceremony at an airport in Hakkari, attended by high-ranking military officials, honored the fallen. These soldiers were engaged in a mission to recover the body of a comrade who had been killed during gunfire in May 2022. This operation was part of Turkey's ongoing military efforts against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU, UK, and the US, following decades of conflict that has claimed over 40,000 lives.

In a significant development in the long-standing conflict, the PKK recently announced a ceasefire and intention to disband, claiming it had fulfilled its historical mission. This has raised hopes for peace, with reports of a group of fighters set to lay down arms in Iraqi Kurdistan soon.

The situation continues to unfold as the bereaved nation grapples with this devastating loss while navigating the complex dynamics of the ongoing conflict.