Southwala Shorts
- US President Donald Trump has announced that Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian researcher and Princeton University student, has been released by Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah after being...
- According to Trump, she is now safely in the custody of the American embassy in Baghdad.
- The announcement brings an end to a long ordeal for Tsurkov, who had been detained for more than two years.
- Trump praised the outcome as a victory for persistent diplomatic efforts and repeated his call for the release of other hostages held by militant groups.
US President Donald Trump has announced that Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian researcher and Princeton University student, has been released by Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah after being held in captivity. According to Trump, she is now safely in the custody of the American embassy in Baghdad.
The announcement brings an end to a long ordeal for Tsurkov, who had been detained for more than two years. Trump praised the outcome as a victory for persistent diplomatic efforts and repeated his call for the release of other hostages held by militant groups.
Tsurkov entered Iraq in 2023 using her Russian passport and reportedly concealed her Israeli nationality. During her time in Iraq, she was taken hostage by Kata’ib Hezbollah, a powerful armed group with influence in the country.
Her detention drew widespread concern from international academic and diplomatic communities, with many calling for her safe release. Throughout her captivity, her case highlighted the risks faced by foreign nationals working or researching in conflict zones.
According to reports, Tsurkov’s release appears to have come without any formal prisoner exchange or concessions. Details about the negotiations leading to her freedom have not been disclosed.
The case underscores the sensitive nature of hostage situations in the Middle East, where individuals can become entangled in wider political and security struggles.
In his announcement, Trump emphasized that the United States remains committed to ensuring that “no hostage is left behind.” He also used the occasion to call on Hamas to release hostages currently held in Gaza, linking Tsurkov’s case to broader US efforts to protect its citizens and allies abroad.
Tsurkov’s release has been welcomed as a major relief for her family, her academic peers, and the broader community that had been campaigning for her freedom. For now, she remains under the protection of American officials in Iraq and is expected to reunite with her family soon.
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