EXCLUSIVE: Iraq in talks to free Israeli-Russian researcher Tsurkov
Shafaq News/ The Iraqi government is engaged in negotiations to secure the release of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, the Coordination Framework (CF), a political alliance of predominantly Shiite parties, confirmed on Monday.
CF member Adi Abdul-Hadi told Shafaq News that 'negotiations are underway between government officials and other parties to obtain Tsurkov's release,' without disclosing the identities of those involved.
'However,' he added, 'her fate remains unknown.'
He also described the talks as promising, expressing optimism that they would yield 'satisfactory results for all groups involved.'
Tsurkov, a Stanford University doctoral researcher, disappeared in Baghdad over two years ago while conducting fieldwork. She is believed to be held by an Iran-aligned armed group, reportedly Kataib Hezbollah. However, the group denied any involvement in the incident.
Earlier on Monday, a US State Department spokesperson told our agency that discussions are still ongoing over Tsurkov's case but rejected reports suggesting a prisoner exchange deal involving Iranian detainees.
Western outlets had previously speculated that a potential agreement might include the release of a detained member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and several other Iranian nationals held in US custody under a quiet US-Iraqi understanding.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Iraqi airstrike kills 6 ISIS militants in Kikuk
Shafaq News/ The Iraqi army killed six ISIS militants in an airstrike in Wadi al-Shay, a mountainous area in Kirkuk, the Joint Operations Command (JOC) announced on Friday. The JOC revealed in a statement that the strike destroyed the site where the militants had taken shelter. The Federal Intelligence and Investigations Agency tracked the group continuously and provided targeting data to the Joint Operations Command. A source clarified to Shafaq News that the airstrike hit a rugged area within the Daquq district of Saladin province, approximately 50 kilometers south of Kirkuk province. Earlier this month, a security source reported to Shafaq News that Iraqi Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes bombarding Islamic State (ISIS) positions in the Baiji district of Saladin province. Although Iraq declared victory over ISIS in 2017, remnants of the group continue to operate in remote regions, particularly in Saladin, Kirkuk, and Diyala provinces. Security forces frequently launch targeted operations to prevent the group from regrouping.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Israel killed +15 Palestinians, lost two soldiers in Gaza
Shafaq News/ On Friday, Israeli forces continued air and ground operations across the Gaza Strip, with at least 18 Palestinians killed in strikes since dawn, according to health authorities. A series of air raids struck the al-Shuja'iya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, contributing to the latest casualties. The overall Palestinian death toll has risen to 54,084 since October 7, 2023, with more than 123,000 people wounded. Amid the military campaign against the enclave aiming to dismantle its remaining infrastructure, and the mounting international calls for a humanitarian truce, the Israeli military reported that two soldiers were seriously wounded in separate incidents in the northern and southern areas of Gaza, where hostilities with Palestinian factions continue. One soldier was injured in the north during an exchange of fire, while the second sustained injuries in the south during ongoing military activity, the army said. Last week, Israeli forces also acknowledged the deaths of two additional soldiers during operations inside Gaza. Separately, the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, released video footage of what it described as ''a coordinated ambush'' targeting Israeli forces east of Khan Younis. The operation, part of the group's ongoing 'Stones of David' series, was conducted on May 20 in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa School in the town of Al-Qarara. Explosives were detonated inside a building where Israeli troops had taken up position, followed by a secondary blast at a nearby tunnel entrance as reinforcements arrived. According to official Israeli figures, 858 soldiers have been killed since the war began on October 7, including 416 since the commencement of ground operations in the Gaza Strip.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Turkiye's Fidan: Both Russia and Ukraine now eye ceasefire
Shafaq News/ On Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan noted that both Russia and Ukraine are seeking a ceasefire, urging both sides to reaffirm their readiness to negotiate. While traveling to Kyiv by train, Fidan described the atmosphere surrounding the conflict as increasingly constructive. 'I see the situation taking a more optimistic turn with the start of negotiations. Both sides want a ceasefire. No one is rejecting the idea,' he remarked to Anadolu Agency. Earlier this week, Fidan visited Moscow, where he met with President Vladimir Putin. A Turkish diplomatic source indicated that discussions focused on efforts to end the war, along with developments linked to the previous negotiations hosted in Istanbul. Russia has also proposed holding a second round of direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2. The first round took place in the same city on May 16. That meeting marked the first official contact between Russian and Ukrainian delegations since March 2022. Although no ceasefire was reached, both sides agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war and submitted written outlines of their respective positions. Moreover, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed to Russian media that the upcoming delegation will remain unchanged, comprising a presidential adviser, a senior diplomat, and senior officials from the military and intelligence services.
