Trump Says Militia Frees Princeton Researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov in Iraq

Lead U.S. President Donald Trump announced today that Israeli-Russian doctoral student Elizabeth Tsurkov has been released by the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah and is now safely at the American Embassy in Baghdad.

Nut Graf Tsurkov’s liberation, more than two years after her abduction in March 2023 during a research trip to Baghdad, underscores intensified U.S. diplomatic and security efforts alongside Iraqi authorities to secure the freedom of foreign hostages in the region.

Main Part

Subheading: Key Details of the Release

  • President Trump posted on Truth Social that Tsurkov “was just released by Kataib Hezbollah … after being tortured for many months”.
  • Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed the announcement on social media, attributing the outcome to “extensive efforts exerted by our security services over the course of many months”.

Subheading: Family Responses and U.S. Involvement

  • Emma Tsurkov, Elizabeth’s sister, expressed profound relief and gratitude, praising the “personal mission” undertaken by Trump’s special hostage envoy Adam Boehler and thanking embassy staff in Baghdad for their support.
  • Global Reach, a nonprofit focused on Americans held abroad, confirmed that Tsurkov underwent a medical evaluation at the U.S. Embassy following her release.

Subheading: Background on the Abduction Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Middle East researcher fluent in Arabic, was kidnapped from a café in Baghdad’s Karrada district in March 2023 while conducting fieldwork for her Princeton University doctoral thesis on Syria. No immediate claim of responsibility was made at the time, but U.S. and Israeli officials long suspected Kataib Hezbollah of orchestrating the abduction.

Subheading: Broader Regional Implications

  • Kataib Hezbollah, designated a terrorist organization by Washington, maintains close ties with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has targeted U.S. forces and diplomatic facilities in Iraq.
  • Tsurkov’s freedom follows other successful U.S. and allied efforts to negotiate the release of foreign nationals and highlights the complex network of militia, diplomatic, and intelligence channels operating in Iraq.

Subheading: Next Steps U.S. officials have not disclosed details of the negotiations or any concessions made, but plan to repatriate Tsurkov to the United States for further medical care and debriefing. Family members expect to reunite with her in the coming days.