Israeli-Russian captive in Iraq Tsurkov was freed in exchange deal: Report

"Israeli-Russian academic and Princeton University student Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was held captive in Iraq for more than two years, was released earlier this week in an exchange deal with Israel, according to a report by Iran's Tasnim News Agency. Two prisoners, including a Lebanese national seized in 2024, were released by Israel in exchange for the freedom of Tsurkov, whom Tasnim described in its report on Thursday as an Israeli spy."

"Citing an unnamed source in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Tasnim identified one of the Israeli prisoners as Imad Amhaz, who was abducted in November 2024 by Israeli forces from Batroun, a predominantly Christian coastal town north of Beirut. Amhaz was identified by Israel as a trainer mariner and senior operative of the Lebanese group Hezbollah. But Lebanese officials told the country's state-run National News Agency (NNA) that the abducted man was a civilian naval officer."

"On Tuesday, Trump announced Tsurkov's release on his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump had said Tsurkov was held by Kataib Hezbollah, an armed group which is part of Iraq's security apparatus under the umbrella of the state-funded Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). The force is a Shia paramilitary dominated by Iran-backed armed groups. It is a separate entity from the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah."

Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian academic and Princeton student, was held captive in Iraq for more than two years and was released in a prisoner exchange. Israel released two prisoners, including a Lebanese national seized in 2024, for Tsurkov's freedom. Tasnim identified one released prisoner as Imad Amhaz, abducted in November 2024 from Batroun; Israel described him as a trainer mariner and senior Hezbollah operative, while Lebanese officials called him a civilian naval officer. Tasnim did not name the second released prisoner and downplayed U.S. President Donald Trump’s role; Trump announced the release and said Kataib Hezbollah had held Tsurkov. The Popular Mobilisation Forces are a state-funded Shia paramilitary dominated by Iran-backed groups and distinct from Lebanese Hezbollah. Tsurkov disappeared in Baghdad in March 2023 while conducting academic research and was last seen in the Karrada district.

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