Elizabeth Surkov, a Russian-Israeli citizen, was released this Tuesday after more than two years in captivity at the hands of Kataib Hezbollah
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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced on Tuesday the release of Russian-Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who had been kidnapped by the Iraqi terrorist militia Kataib Hezbollah in March 2023.
"I'm pleased to report that Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton student whose sister is an American citizen, has just been released by Kataib Hezbollah and is now safe at the United States Embassy in Iraq after being tortured for many months," the president reported.
Tsurkov had entered Iraq using her Russian passport to conduct academic research in coordination with Princeton University. The young researcher had lost contact with her relatives in March 2023, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later confirming that she was being held captive by the terrorist militia Kataib Hezbollah.
Trump consigue liberar a una rehén israelí secuestrada por un grupo terrorista de Irak
Tsurkov's family thanks Trump.
The news was celebrated by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and by Tsurkov's family, who thanked Trump and his special envoy, Adam Boehler. "If Adam hadn't made my sister's return his personal mission, I don't know where we'd be," commented Emma, sister of the recently released woman.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, also celebrated the release of the Israeli citizen, thanking the work of his country's top military officials and communicating with Tsurkov's family. "We'll continue to fight with vigor and determination until we recover all our hostages, both the living and the deceased," the prime minister's statement affirms.
Trump used Tsurkov's case to issue a new threat to Hamas, indicating that the terrorist group should "release the hostages right now." "I'll always fight for justice and I'll never give up" were the words used by the American president.
It should be recalled that Kataib Hezbollah is an Iraqi armed militia whose funding comes from the Islamic regime of Iran and was designated as a terrorist organization by the United States in 2009.
Trump consigue liberar a una rehén israelí secuestrada por un grupo terrorista de Irak
