No deal behind academic Elizabeth Tsurkov's release in Iraq, sources say | International

BAGHDAD, Sept 12, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Sources close to the Iraqi government told AFP on Friday that no deal was made to secure the release of Israeli-Russian academic Elizabeth Tsurkov this week, saying her abductors had instead bowed to unspecified "pressure". Kidnapped in Baghdad in March of 2023, Tsurkov was set free late Tuesday, hours after Israel carried out an unprecedented strike in Qatar targeting Hamas leaders. She was handed over to the US embassy in Iraq, then flown the following day to Israel. The Iraqi government, which always maintained it was working tirelessly to find Tsurkov, previously said she was abducted by "outlaws", while US President Donald Trump said she was released by the powerful pro-Iran group Kataeb Hezbollah....