About 100 armed men attacked a camp of Qatari hunters in the deserts near the Iraq-Saudi Arabia border early on Wednesday, December 25, kidnapping 26 nationals from this country, including some members of the royal family. According to Reuters, two police officers in Samawah confirmed the kidnapping and stated that Iraqi security forces have launched a large-scale search operation in the area to find them. Faleh Al-Ziyadi, the governor of Samawah, told Reuters, "A group of armed men in pickup trucks kidnapped at least 26 Qataris from their camp in the Badiya area of Samawah desert near the Saudi border." No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping yet. Hunters from Gulf countries usually travel to southern Iraq during this time of year. The Qatari Foreign Ministry confirmed the abduction of its citizens in Iraq but did not specify the number of kidnapped individuals. The ministry stated that it is in talks with the Iraqi government to ensure the "quickest possible" release of the kidnapped individuals. The statement added that the Qatari hunters had entered Iraq with official permission from the Iraqi Ministry of Interior. A police colonel in Samawah mentioned that several Iraqi guards were accompanying this group of hunters, but they did not expect a large number of armed men to attack them. He, who wished to remain anonymous, added, "We are talking about an attack by at least 100 men with flashlights and light weapons on the Qatari camp and the kidnapping of hunters around three in the morning on Wednesday." Another police officer stated that initial information indicates that the armed men, along with their hostages, have moved to the Nasiriyah province, 300 kilometers south of Baghdad.
Armed Men Kidnap at Least 26 Qatari Nationals in the Deserts of Iraq
A group of armed men kidnapped at least 26 Qatari nationals, including royal family members, from a hunting camp in Iraq. The incident has prompted a large-scale search operation by Iraqi security forces, and the Qatari government is negotiating for their release. This kidnapping raises concerns about security in Iraq and the safety of foreign nationals.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A group of armed men kidnapped at least 26 Qatari nationals from a hunting camp in Iraq, including members of the royal family. Iraqi security forces have launched a search operation while the Qatari government is negotiating for their release.
- The kidnapping occurred near the Iraq-Saudi Arabia border.
- No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iraq has faced ongoing security challenges, including kidnappings and attacks by armed groups, which complicate the safety of foreign nationals in the region.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%