Title: Pro-Iran Armed Faction Denies Involvement in Disappearance of Israeli-Russian Academic
Date: [Insert Date]
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq’s pro-Iran armed faction Kataeb Hezbollah has dismissed allegations made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office that they are holding Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian academic who has been missing in Iraq for months. In a press release issued on Thursday, the group implied that it was not involved in her disappearance and stated that it was doing everything it could to uncover the fate of any “Zionist hostage or hostages” in the country.
Kataeb Hezbollah, which is a distinct entity from the Lebanese Hezbollah, is a powerful faction of Iraq’s Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces). This group of Iran-backed former paramilitaries was integrated into the Iraqi security forces in recent years. The US government listed Kataeb Hezbollah as a terrorist organization in 2009.
The group’s spokesman, Abu Ali al-Askari, released an ambiguous statement on Telegram, calling the Israeli accusation concerning the presence of an Israeli security agent hostage in Iraq a “dangerous indicator.” The statement urged the relevant security organizations to expose networks linked to Israel and bring them to justice. Kataeb Hezbollah pledged to work tirelessly to uncover the fate of any “Zionist hostage or hostages” in Iraq and shed light on the intentions of the criminal gang facilitating their movements.
Netanyahu’s office previously revealed that Tsurkov, 36, had traveled to Iraq on her own initiative for her academic research as part of her doctorate work for Princeton University. According to Iraqi intelligence sources, Tsurkov was kidnapped in Baghdad at the beginning of Ramadan, which started on March 23 this year. Witnesses claimed she was abducted while leaving the Ridha Alwan cafe, a popular area frequented by Westerners.
While rumors circulated in Arabic media that Tsurkov was operating on behalf of Israeli intelligence, an Israeli official denied these claims, stating that she was targeted due to her foreign nationalities, Russian and Israeli. It is worth noting that Israeli citizens are prohibited from entering enemy countries, even on a foreign passport. Israeli security officials are currently collaborating with US and Russian counterparts to secure Tsurkov’s release as quickly as possible.
Tsurkov’s website states that she is a fellow at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy and a research fellow at the Israeli-Palestinian think-tank Forum for Regional Thinking. Witnesses who had encountered Tsurkov in the past noted that she freely moved around the Iraqi capital, focusing her research on pro-Iran factions and the movements of Iraqi Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr.
The search for Tsurkov continues, with international efforts aimed at ensuring her safe return. The Israeli government and foreign allies remain committed to resolving the situation and bringing her home.