Israeli Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov released from captivity in Iraq

Israeli Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov was released from captivity in Iraq, US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, more than two years after she was taken hostage by an Iran-backed militia in the country.

Trump announced on Truth Social that Tsurkov was released by Kataib Hezbollah and is now “safely in the American Embassy in Iraq after being tortured for many months.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a post on X that Tsurkov had been released, describing her only as a “Russian citizen.” He added, “We reaffirm, once again, that we will not tolerate any compromise in enforcing the law and upholding the authority of the state, nor will we allow anyone to undermine the reputation of Iraq and its people.” Iraq does not have relations with Israel, and normalization with the country is illegal under Iraqi law.

Tsurkov’s sister, Emma, said in a post on X that their family is “incredibly happy” with the news of the release and thanked the Trump administration for its efforts.

Tsurkov, a student at Princeton University in the US state of New Jersey, was kidnapped in Baghdad in July 2023 while conducting research in the country. Tsurkov, who was 36 at the time of the kidnapping, was born in Israel to Russian parents. She completed service in the Israeli military, which is mandatory for most citizens, before starting her career in research.

Tsurkov, who is fluent in Arabic, was a noted expert on Syria at the time of her kidnapping and also a critic of Israeli policy toward the Palestinians.

Kataib Hezbollah is one of the most prominent militias in Iraq and is backed by Iran. The group, which is designated a terrorist organization by the United States, has been responsible for a number of attacks on US forces in the country, as well as on the US Embassy in Baghdad.

Emma Tsurkov spent years publicly campaigning for her sister’s release and told Al-Monitor in October 2023 that the United States could help secure her freedom.

The Trump administration worked to free Tsurkov after the president returned to office in January, and US special hostage envoy Adam Boehler traveled to Iraq in February to push for her release, Reuters reported the following month. Emma Tsurkov told the Israeli news outlet Ynet in May that she had met with Boehler to discuss her sister’s plight.

The administration has had some success in securing the release of other hostages, including in the Middle East. Israeli American Edan Alexander was released from captivity in Gaza in May after the United States struck a deal with Hamas. Alexander was the last US citizen held by the group in the Palestinian enclave.

Ten Americans were freed in a prisoner swap between the United States, Venezuela and El Salvador in July this year. In February, American schoolteacher Marc Fogel was released from prison in Russia after negotiations with the Kremlin.

Trump called on Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza in the post announcing Tsurkov’s release.