Kataib Hezbollah, the Iraqi-based terrorist organization that held Russian-Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov captive for over 900 days, had convinced itself that Tsurkov was becoming a liability as a hostage, according to a Friday report by Arab language news source Asharq al Awsat.
The arrangements for her release were complex, the report said, with issues such as internal communication problems between several militias and various security elements in Iraq, and the transfer of Tsurkov through several different sites, at one of which she was left alone for four hours until Iraqi security forces arrived to pick her up and to transfer her to the US Embassy, the report noted.
US and Iraqi officials told the Arabic source that the terrorist group was pressured by the two countries to release her.
Hostage release follows decisive partnership
A US State Department spokesperson told the source that "the release of Princeton University student Elizabeth Tsurkov came after a decisive partnership with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani."
Some reports also said that Tsurkov would be released in exchange for Emad Amhaz, according to the IRGC-backed Tasnim News Agency. However, an Iraqi official told Kataib Hezbollah that she was given back "without any deal." Amhaz, who is a Hezbollah operative, was arrested by Shayetet 13 commandos late last year, according to Al-Hadath.
Kataib Hezbollah had moved Tsurkov to various locations during her captivity, including to the home of a former politician.
US intelligence was able to locate her twice, and an Iraqi government source said there were attempts to rescue her, but neither was successful at breaking her out of captivity until earlier this month.
Tsurkov returned in serious condition and suffering from back pain, photos showed.
During her last few days as a hostage, she was sent to Baghdad's Al-Jadriya neighborhood.