Iraq and the United States announced a breakthrough with the Elizabeth Tsurkov freedom, ending a long hostage ordeal. The Israeli-Russian scholar had disappeared in Baghdad in March 2023. After 903 days, she finally walked out of captivity.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani revealed her release in a statement. He praised security forces and said their intense efforts made the operation possible. At the same time, Donald Trump confirmed the news on his Truth Social platform. He claimed that Kataeb Hezbollah freed her after months of torture, marking a major turn in the Elizabeth Tsurkov freedom mission. He also noted that she was taken to the US embassy in Baghdad.
Officials stressed that Iraqi security and intelligence teams had tracked her location for months. Finally, on September 9, they stormed the detention site and secured the Elizabeth Tsurkov freedom. Iraqi spokesman Sabah al-Numan explained that she was transferred to the embassy for reunion with her sister Emma. Emma later expressed her joy online and thanked the US team for supporting the release.
Elizabeth Tsurkov is a doctoral student at Princeton University. She also serves as a fellow at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy. She entered Iraq using her Russian passport to conduct research. Her focus included pro-Iran groups and the political movement of Moqtada Sadr. In March 2023, she vanished while leaving a cafe in Baghdad’s Karrada neighborhood, leading to a prolonged plea for Elizabeth Tsurkov’s freedom by her supporters.
At the time, Israeli authorities accused Kataeb Hezbollah of the abduction. Yet the group denied direct involvement. However, on Tuesday, a source close to the faction admitted they freed her to prevent conflicts in Iraq. The source explained that the release was conditional. The most important demand was a smooth US withdrawal from Iraq without violence. He added that no military operation forced the decision, highlighting it as a political choice to ensure Elizabeth Tsurkov’s freedom.
Kataeb Hezbollah remains part of the Popular Mobilisation Forces, but often acts independently. The group frequently demands the removal of US forces from Iraq. Since the Gaza conflict in 2023, it also attacked American positions in Iraq and Syria. These strikes triggered US retaliation against Iran-linked sites. Recently, both sides agreed to halt escalation.
The Elizabeth Tsurkov freedom now connects to wider debates about US troop presence. Washington and Baghdad already confirmed that the coalition’s mission will end in 2025. By 2026, foreign troops will fully leave Iraqi Kurdistan.
