Elizabeth Tsurkov, Israeli-Russian Researcher, Freed After Abduction in Iraq
Elizabeth Tsurkov, Israeli-Russian Researcher, Freed After Abduction in Iraq
Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian researcher, has been released from captivity in Iraq, US President Donald Trump announced today. Tsurkov, a Princeton student, went missing during a research trip to Iraq in March 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously stated she was being held by the Iran-backed militia, Kataib Hezbollah.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, confirmed her release, stating she is now safely at the American embassy in Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani also acknowledged the release on X, attributing it to extensive efforts by Iraqi security services over many months. He added that security forces located her on Tuesday before her transfer to the US embassy.
Tsurkov reportedly entered Iraq using her Russian passport. Her research focuses on the Levant, particularly the Syrian uprising and civil war. Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful Iraqi Shia militia supported by Iran, was designated a terrorist organization by the US in 2009. In his announcement, Trump also called for the release of hostages held by Hamas following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
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