In brief
Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian researcher abducted in Iraq during a research trip in March 2023, has been freed after several months of captivity marked by reported torture. Her release was confirmed by US President Donald Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who noted extensive efforts by Iraqi security services to secure her freedom. Tsurkov, who focuses on Middle Eastern studies, was held by the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah.
An Israeli-Russian researcher has been released after being tortured for many months by her Iraqi militia abductors, US President Donald Trump has announced.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: I am pleased to report that Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton student, whose sister is an American citizen, was just released by Kataib Hezbollah, and is now safely in the American embassy in Iraq.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed Ms Tsurkov's release shortly afterwards.
She had gone missing in Iraq during a research trip in March 2023 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said several months later that she was being held by the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah.
In a post on X, Sudani said Ms Tsurkov's release was a culmination of extensive efforts exerted by our security services over the course of many months.
He added that the security services on Tuesday were able to uncover the place the student had been held, before handing her over to the US embassy.
Ms Tsurkov entered Iraq on her Russian passport, Netanyahu's office said at the time.
According to Ms Tsurkov's website, her research focuses on the Levant - a historical term that refers to a large geographical region including present-day Israel, Syria and other areas - and the Syrian uprising and civil war.
Kataib Hezbollah (Brigades of the Party of God) is a powerful Iraqi Shia militia that gets financial and military support from Iran. It was designated by the US as a terrorist organisation in 2009.
In Tuesday's post on Truth Social, Trump also said: I will always fight for justice and never give up.
Hamas, release the hostages, now! he added, in a reference to those people seized by the Palestinian group during its deadly attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.
