The Iraqi government has initiated an investigation into the disappearance of Israeli citizen Elizabeth Tsurkov in Baghdad. The "Hezbollah Brigades" in Iraq hinted at their non-responsibility for the abduction of Tsurkov, asserting that they will "make extra efforts to ascertain the fate of the Zionist captive(s) in Iraq."
On Wednesday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Hezbollah Brigades are responsible for this matter, saying that "Elizabeth Tsurkov, who disappeared several months ago in Iraq, is being held by the Shiite militia Hezbollah Brigades." In their first comment on the issue, the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades vaguely addressed this accusation in a statement via Telegram, noting that "the acknowledgment by the Israeli Prime Minister of the presence of an Israeli security element in Iraq is a very serious indicator that must be taken seriously and dealt with precisely and sternly." They added that "the relevant security agencies should uncover networks connected to Israel and bring them to justice."
They further stated, "For our part in the Hezbollah Brigades… we will make extra efforts to ascertain the fate of the Zionists in Iraq, serving the public interest and to learn more about the intentions of that criminal gang and those facilitating their movements in a country that prohibits and criminalizes dealings with them." Academic researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov reportedly arrived in Baghdad "in early January 2022," according to a Western diplomat in Iraq who requested anonymity.
