Trump announces Princeton student has been released by Iraqi terrorist group Kata’ib Hezbollah

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced on social media that his administration has secured the release of a Princeton graduate student, who is the sister of an American citizen, from the Iraqi terrorist group Kata’ib Hezbollah.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian student, is now safe inside the American embassy in Iraq, Trump said, after more than two years in captivity. Her release is the culmination of months of negotiations.

"I am pleased to report that Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton Student, whose sister is an American Citizen, was just released by Kata’ib Hezbollah (MILITANT Hezbollah), and is now safely in the American Embassy in Iraq after being tortured for many months," Trump posted on Truth Social. "I will always fight for JUSTICE, and never give up. HAMAS, RELEASE THE HOSTAGES, NOW!"

Elizabeth Tsurkov's sister, Emma Tsurkov, credited Trump's special envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, with securing her sister's release and said the family is excited to reunite with their loved one, according to The Hill.

“We cannot wait to see Elizabeth and give her all the love we have been waiting to share for 903 days,” she said in a statement. “We are so thankful to President Trump and his Special Envoy, Adam Boehler. If Adam had not made my sister’s return his personal mission, I do not know where we would be."

Elizabeth Tsurkov went missing in Baghdad, Iraq in March 2023 and was confirmed to be alive that July. She was in the Middle Eastern country for academic research at the time of her capture.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.