WP: Iraqi group frees Russian-Israeli scholar held by Kataib Hezbollah

The Iraqi Shiite group Kataib Hezbollah has released Russian-Israeli citizen Elizabeth Tsurkov over fears of potential military action by Israel, The Washington Post reports.

Earlier the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that Tsurkov had been freed by Kataib Hezbollah and was now at the American Embassy in Iraq.

The paper cited an Iraqi official who said members of Kataib Hezbollah were convinced that their leaders could become targets for Israel, which might resort to their elimination. “Therefore, they ultimately relented,” the source said, adding that “both sides agreed that her release would spare Iraq from being dragged into a regional conflict.”

Another source told the newspaper that the conditions for Tsurkov’s release included steps toward the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. “U.S. forces began a gradual pullout from the country in line with the plan announced by the Pentagon last year,” the report noted.

Tsurkov was abducted in Iraq in 2023. On July 5, 2023, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that she was being held by Kataib Hezbollah. Officials said she had entered Iraq using her Russian passport for academic purposes. According to Israeli broadcaster Kan, Tsurkov is a specialist on Syria and the activities of the terrorist group Islamic State. Her research focused on comparing the movement of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s followers with Lebanese factions.

In July 2023, Saudi television channel Al Hadath reported that Iraqi authorities had opened an investigation into Tsurkov’s kidnapping, considering the case a matter of national security.

By Khagan Isayev