Israeli woman reportedly kidnapped in Iraq

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) – Israel said Wednesday that an Israeli woman has been kidnapped in Iraq.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian researcher, is held hostage by Shia group Kataib Hezbollah, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

According to the statement, Tsurkov, who went missing in Iraq four months ago, is still alive.

"We see Iraq as responsible for her fate and safety," the statement said.

There was no comment from the Iraqi authorities on the report.

Iraq has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

Last year, the Iraqi Parliament outlawed any kind of contact or normalization with Tel Aviv.