Princeton academic Elizabeth Tsurkov freed by Iraqi militia after 2 years in captivity

A Princeton University graduate student who was kidnapped and held captive by an Islamic militia in Iraq for more than two years was released on Tuesday

A Princeton University graduate student who was kidnapped and held captive by an Islamic militia in Iraq for more than two years was released on Tuesday.

Elizabeth Tsurkov — a Russian-Israeli citizen — was released by the Kataib Hezbollah group, a Shia paramilitary group aligned with Iran, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social.

Tsurkov had been "tortured for many months," Trump said.

The release came after "extensive efforts exerted by our security services over the course of many months." Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani said on X.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement: "I spoke this evening with Elizabeth’s mother and Avital, her sisters, and in the emotional conversation I told them that the entire people of Israel are happy to see her home again."