A desperate hunt is underway for three Americans civilians, who were reportedly kidnapped this weekend by men many believe connected to terrorists in Baghdad.
Iraqi security forces have fanned out across Baghdad neighborhoods Monday morning looking for the three United States citizens, closing streets and conducting house-to-house searches.
An Iraqi government intelligence official told the Associated Press the Americans were kidnapped from their interpreter’s home in the southern Baghdad neighborhood of Dora. The kidnapping occurred, the official said, after the Americans were invited into the home of their interpreter. The individuals were then taken to Sadr City, the official said, where communication was lost.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief the press.
A local policeman in Dora said the individuals were taken from their car on Saturday along a highway in southwest Dora while driving to Baghdad International Airport. The two differing accounts of the events could not immediately be reconciled. The policeman spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief the press.
The U.S. Embassy confirmed Sunday that “several” Americans have gone missing in Iraq, after local media reported that three Americans had been kidnapped in the Iraqi capital.
U.S. Embassy spokesman Scott Bolz said, “We are working in full cooperation with Iraqi authorities to locate the missing Americans.”
Bolz did not identify the missing Americans or say what they were doing in Iraq.
State Department spokesman John Kirby said that “due to privacy considerations” he had nothing further to add about the missing Americans. “The safety and security of Americans abroad is our highest priority,” Kirby said.
Col. Steve Warren, the Baghdad based spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group, confirmed that the individuals were civilians.
The comments by U.S. officials came after the Arab news channel, al-Arabiya, citing its own sources, reported that three Americans had been kidnapped by militias in Baghdad.
There were no immediate claims of responsibility.
In the past, many kidnappings in Iraq have been carried out by the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda.
Following the ISIS takeover of Iraq’s second largest city Mosul and large swaths of territory in the country’s north and west, Iraq has witnessed a deterioration in security as government forces were sent to front lines and Shiite militias were empowered to aid in the fight following the collapse of the Iraqi military.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
me says
We really should put a STOP to this crap!! One little missile is NOT helping with riding the Americans of these roaches that KILL!!
Dan says
The Obama administration is corrupt. They thrive on chaos. The more instability there is the easier it is for them to push their insidious agenda.
robert meyer says
obama and hillary are both corrupt!
L. Shamus McQuade says
ISIS will have fun with this. They will use these amercans as a bargening chip or an example….Considering ISIS’s track record of cutting heads off this does not look good…..Thank Obama for ISIS
robert meyer says
i am comple agreement shamus!
Gary Smith says
This is just the start of the problems caused by Obamas great deal with Iran
Justin W says
Hopefully these Americans will be rescued. Iraq has been one huge failure thanks to the Washington politicians. The U.S. military toppled Saddam Hussein from power and captured or killed many of the government leaders. Unfortunately George Bush and Barack Obama have been unsuccessful in restoring a lasting peace to this country.
Robert Pescatore says
Obama is doing what he does best, he goes around congress when he doesn’t get his way, he goes around congress saying if you don’t agree with me I will do it myself and that isn’t the way the constitution works. If you are on my side tell your congress men and senators to get some guts and impeach this Muslim dictator right now.
nj says
When did it become American responsibility to FIX every other country? We need to watch our own house for a change. What were those Americans doing there? They have to know it is dangerous, unsafe, and a potential for a crises situation.
We need to get our people out of there and give the mess back to those that live there. They are the ones who should have the most interest in how they want to live. We have spent millions giving them the tools and training. It is time to walk away now.
Wish I could feel more sympathetic for these Americans but am finding it difficult. Stay the hell out of there!
Sal Belardo says
Obama the Socialist, Muslim, Traitor to the United States. He will go down in history as the dumbest President in our lifetime. The first and last black President. No white person will ever vote for a black man again. Wasn’t it cool to vote for the first black President? NOT! He not only disappointed all whites that voted for him and look at the Black unemployment. What a shame!
Look how close he has come to destroying the US.. He put us in the toilette and if Hillary gets in she will pull the handle!
Ted garvin says
Thats an ignorant comment . The color of a persons skin has nothing to do with his abilities. I know that a person like yourself will have a hard toime trying to understand some of these big fancy words so maybe you can get one of your family members to explain this. For your information i bet his IQ is at least 15 points higher than yours. Furthermore im white and no i dont like him but its not because he is black. If Colin Powell would of ever run you better believe more than 1 white person would vote for him.
Judy says
The color of O’s skin changed him as president
Lee Fisher says
I hate to break it to you, but Powell is not any better than BO. Not a bk thing, it’s a progressive thing.
robert meyer says
yes obama is a mulim the apple does not fall far from the tree!
James tibbs says
I read yesterday that three americans were kidnapped in Dora, Iraq. This morning, the spinless white house spokesman john kirby says tha there have been several other american civilians gone missing in Iraq. My question is how long was the obama regime gonna withhold this information? Yesterday it was released by the ambassadore to Iraq.
Douglas James says
So Iran now has a new set of hostages!
Joseph says
Obama is the worse President we have ever had in this country and he don’t care about any of us in fact he has only made things worse for us all and now we all will suffer from what he has done for years a specially if Clinton or Bernie Sanders get in because they are the same as he is and we cant do or take anymore of this we are so far in debt now and sold so much of are land to China, Japan and now Saudi Araba we soon them will become a spit country so sure Vote them in if that is what you want but for me, he has to go and we need a real Man in there that can put a stop to all of this and get are land back and kick them out of here unless they want to rent are land that would be better. It now is probably to late because he sold it to them. I tell you this President we have right now is just one of them and he don’t care for us or are country and when he gets out of office he and his family is going to move to Kenya with all the deals that he made with them while he was in office and all the money that sent there to all is just waiting for him there. Then to after he leaves all hell is going to happen because he has worked out that stuff will fall into play after he is gone and safe in Kenya. You watch or better yet check it out for yourself it is all clear and easy to out about it is all over the press and on T.V. and radio and even in books that they will be selling and the ones that Hillary and Bernie they are all into and doing the same thing. That is why we the people have to put a stop to it this time because we really cant take anymore of this that is for sure.