Israeli Researcher Elizabeth Zurkov Missing for Four Months in Iraq, Received Prior Warnings
Four months have passed since Israeli researcher Elizabeth Zurkov was kidnapped by Shiite militia in Iraq. It has now been revealed that she had received alerts and warnings about the dangers of her stay in Iraq prior to her abduction.
Mustafa al-Khazimi, Iraq’s former prime minister and intelligence chief with close ties to officials in the American government, conveyed the message to both the Americans and Russians last year, stating that Zurkov’s activities in Iraq were endangering the country.
Various Israeli authorities had also personally warned Zurkov before her most recent visit to Iraq, advising her against going. However, she chose to disregard these warnings, believing that studying political movements in the Middle East required being present in the field.
While Israel has not officially confirmed whether it has a record of her, they do have clear evidence that Zurkov is alive and in good condition. Her family also shares this belief. Operations for her release are ongoing and involve the cooperation of other countries.
In Iraq, a senior member of the Hezbollah brigades called for an investigation into the fate of the “prisoner of the prisoners,” likely referring to Elizabeth Zurkov. The Israeli-Russian researcher had studied the Seder movement and had previously visited Lebanon, taking precautions to avoid revealing her identity and avoiding certain areas.
Zurkov felt relatively safe in Iraq compared to Lebanon. During her visit in 2022, she rented an apartment with an Iraqi woman in Baghdad’s al-Kharada neighborhood and frequented a local gym. However, Iraqi intelligence issued a warning to the authorities in Russia and the USA, advising Zurkov to leave Iraq.
The search for Elizabeth Zurkov continues, with hopes of her safe return growing stronger with each passing day.