Kataib Hezbollah

'Kataib Hezbollah used me as a punching bag,' Tsurkov says in first interview since release

Tsurkov was beaten “senseless”, hung from the ceiling, and electrocuted, according to the New York Times.

 Israeli-Russian hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov over a backdrop of Iraqi and Israeli flags.
Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attends the 34th Arab League summit, in Baghdad, Iraq, May 17, 2025.

Iraq worries about rising tensions with US following Hegseth call

A mourner attends the funeral of a commander from Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah armed group who was killed in what they called a "Zionist attack" in the Syrian capital Damascus on Friday, during a funeral in Baghdad, Iraq September 22, 2024.

IDF, Mossad readying for Oct. 7-style attack from Iran-backed militias in Iraq

A man looks at the site where a car packed with explosives blew up yesterday, in Hayy al-Shurta, a Shi'ite district in Baghdad, Iraq February 17, 2017.

Sunni candidate killed ahead of Iraq’s November parliamentary elections


State Dept. designates four Iran-backed Iraqi militias as Foreign Terrorist Orgs.

The State Department designated Hakarat al-Nujaba, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Hakarat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, and Kataib al-Imam Ali, all part of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces.

Mourners attend the funeral of Haider al-Moussawi, head of the security unit in the Shi'ite armed group Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, and senior Hezbollah figure Abu Ali Khalil, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Tehran, amid the Iran-Israel conflict, in Baghdad, Iraq, June 22, 2025.

After 903 days in Iraq captivity, Elizabeth Tsurkov lands in Israel

The Prime Minister's Office and Mossad welcomed her return, stating, "Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was held hostage in Iraq and released last night, has landed in Israel."

An ambulance arrives at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan ahead of freed hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov's arrival for treatment on September 10, 2025.

Iraqi sources spin release of Tsurkov as preventing ‘conflict’ - analysis

Iraq appears to want to wring concessions for having freed her. It took 900 days, but authorities in Baghdad are making it seem as if they did what was expected.

 Elizabeth Tsurkov was kidnapped in Iraq earlier this year by Iranian-backed terrorist group Kataib Hezbollah.

Elizabeth Tsurkov to be returned to Israel soon after being released, source tells 'Post'

US President Donald Trump announced that Israeli-Russian citizen Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton student, was released by Kata'ib Hezbollah on Tuesday evening. 

 Israeli-Russian hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov over a backdrop of Iraqi and Israeli flags.

Iraqi police, paramilitary fighters clash outside government building in Baghdad

The clash broke out in Baghdad's Karkh district after a group of fighters from the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) stormed a government building.

Members of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) attend a symbolic funeral of fellow members of PMF who were killed by U.S. air strikes on the Syria-Iraq border, in Baghdad, Iraq, June 29, 2021.

How Iraqi militias siphoned billions from Visa and Mastercard for Iran - WSJ

US and Iraqi authorities revealed a complex scheme involving prepaid cards that funneled illicit funds to Iranian-backed terror militias.

 Members of the Iran-backed Iraqi militias al-Nujaba and Kataib Hezbollah appear in Baghdad on December 4, 2023.

Lebanon’s president spurs controversy by saying he doesn’t want Iraqi-style militias

Aoun’s comments “caused discomfort among Iraqis, particularly since Iraq has consistently stood by Lebanon during times of hardship."

 Members of an Iraqi Shi'ite armed group sit in a vehicle after an attack by a drone strike on an Iran-backed militia headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq January 4, 2024.

Israeli Elizabeth Tsurkov must be freed from Iraq, US Congressman Hamadeh says

“Elizabeth’s barbaric, inhumane treatment must end,” Congressman Abraham Hamadeh said.

 Israeli-Russian hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov over a backdrop of Iraqi and Israeli flags.

Negotiations for hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov's release expected to begin, sources tell 'Post'

Tsurkov was kidnapped in March 2023 in Baghdad by Kata'ib Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian Iraqi terrorist organization, and is believed to still be in Iraq.

 Israeli-Russian hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov over a backdrop of Iraqi and Israeli flags.

Trump pushes Iraq to release Israeli-Russian hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov - report

The US urged Iraq to secure the release of Israeli-Russian hostage Elizabeth Tsurkov, warning of political and economic consequences if she remains captive, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

 Elizabeth Tsurkov was kidnapped in Iraq earlier this year by Iranian-backed terrorist group Kataib Hezbollah.

Iraq must return Israeli hostage Elizabeth Tzurkov or else, US hostage envoy warns

"If Elizabeth Tsurkov does not come home NOW, then the Iraqi Prime Minister is either incapable and should be fired or, worse, complicit," Boehler said.

 Elizabeth Tsurkov was kidnapped in Iraq earlier this year by Iranian-backed terrorist group Kataib Hezbollah.