Israeli woman held hostage in Iraq by Hezbollah
Israeli-Russian citizen Elizabeth Tzurkov is being held hostage by the Shiite militia as a hostage for Hezbollah in Iraq, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
According to the report, she has been missing since March and is still alive, being held by the Shiite militia Kataab Hezbollah, a militia that was created and supported by the al-Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
“This is an academic woman who visited Iraq, using her Russian passport, and on her own initiative for a doctoral thesis and academic research on behalf of Princeton University in the United States,” the statement said. “The incident is being handled by the relevant authorities in the State of Israel, with concern for the safety and well-being of Elizabeth Tzukov.
There were no immediate details on her condition.
Walla reported according to Arab media, Tzurkov was staying in Baghdad when she was taken by a group of militants. It was also reported that an Iranian citizen was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the kidnapping.
Tzukov is considered an expert on Syria, ISIS and the Middle East. She has a master’s degree from the Tel Aviv University in Middle Eastern history and a bachelor’s in communication and international relations from the Hebrew University, according to Walla.
This is a developing story.
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