US hostage envoy Boehler visited Iraq last month to push for release of Israeli-Russian Elizabeth Tsurkov — report

US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler traveled to Iraq last month to push for the release of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was kidnapped in Iraq nearly two years ago, three sources familiar with the matter say.

Since taking office, Boehler has stepped up efforts to secure the release of Tsurkov, a Princeton University student who went missing in Iraq during a research trip in March 2023, publicly urging the Iraqi government to help her get home.

“The Trump Administration has done more in just a few weeks than the previous administration did in almost two years,” Emma Tsurkov, sister of Elizabeth tells Reuters in a statement.

“I am especially grateful to SPEHA [Special Envoy] Boehler for going directly to meet with Prime Minister [Mohammed Shia al-] Sudani in Baghdad. His engagement with Sudani makes it clear that the US holds Sudani responsible for finding a way to get my sister home.”

An Iraqi official speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters confirms Boehler visited in February to discuss the Tsurkov case but did not provide further details.

Tsurkov is being held in Iraq by the Iran-backed Shiite terror group Kataib Hezbollah, according to Israeli officials.

Boehler is trying to negotiate a deal under which Tsurkov will be released in exchange for six members of Iran-aligned Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, one of the sources says.

“The United States cannot tolerate hostage-taking of US nationals or those of our partners such as Israel. We have and will continue to underscore with the Iraqi government the urgency of securing Elizabeth Tsurkov’s release,” a State Department spokesperson at Boehler’s office says.

Under the previous administration of former President Joe Biden, Tsurkov’s family struggled to get Washington to throw its weight behind the efforts to secure her release. US officials then said there was little they could do because she is not an American citizen.

“March 21 will be the two-year anniversary of my sister’s kidnapping. Hopefully she will not endure March 21 in their custody,” Emma Tsurkov says.