Iraq: Three American Citizens Kidnapped for Ransom

The Iraqi Defense Minister states that an organized group is behind the disappearance of three American citizens, who have been kidnapped for ransom. Khalid al-Obeidi, the Iraqi minister, said in an interview with Reuters in Cairo on Thursday, February 1, that the kidnappers had identified and targeted the three American citizens because they consistently visited a specific location. The three Americans in question are technical staff from a small company associated with General Dynamics, who were in Iraq due to a contract between General Dynamics and the U.S. military. They were kidnapped last week along with their translator in the 'Dora' neighborhood of Baghdad. However, no credible information has been released regarding the identity of the kidnappers. Meanwhile, some reports suggest the possible involvement of a group of Iran-backed Shia militants in the kidnapping, but Iraqi and American officials have expressed doubts about this. The Iraqi Defense Minister also emphasized that the government does not yet know whether the kidnappers are Sunni or Shia, but it is clear that the kidnappers acted with the intention of ransom. Mr. al-Obeidi also mentioned that the location the three American citizens regularly visited was 'suspicious,' but he did not provide an explanation for why that location was deemed suspicious. Reports indicate that the kidnapped Americans are technical staff from a communications technology services company. This is the first instance of American citizens being kidnapped in Iraq since 2011, when the U.S. military withdrew from the country. The Iraqi Prime Minister previously stated that he is not even sure if the three have been kidnapped, but rather that 'they suddenly went missing.' Meanwhile, John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, announced that he discussed the fate of these three American citizens with his Iranian counterpart and asked if Iran could assist in locating them, to which the Iranian Foreign Minister promised to do everything possible. In this context, the Iraqi Prime Minister expressed doubt about Iran's involvement in the disappearance of the three Americans.