Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton University student who disappeared in Baghdad in March 2023, has been freed and is now at the American Embassy in Baghdad, Iraqi and U.S. officials said Tuesday.

Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani confirmed the release, calling it "the culmination of extensive efforts exerted by our security services over the course of many months," and saying Baghdad would not tolerate efforts that "undermine the reputation of Iraq and its people." U.S. President Donald Trump posted that Tsurkov "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." He added, "I will always fight for JUSTICE, and never give up. HAMAS, RELEASE THE HOSTAGES, NOW!"

Tsurkov disappeared while on a research trip in Baghdad in March 2023. Months after her disappearance, the Israeli government said she had been kidnapped by Kata'ib Hezbollah, a Shiite militia also referred to as Kataeb Hezbollah or Hezbollah Brigades. Iraqi authorities and U.S. officials did not immediately release details about the circumstances of her captivity or the precise terms and timing of her release.

In his statement, Prime Minister al-Sudani emphasized the role of Iraqi security services and reiterated the government's commitment to enforcing the law and protecting the country's reputation. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad confirmed Tsurkov was in its custody but provided no further comment on her condition or next steps.

Tsurkov's case drew international attention after she disappeared two and a half years ago. Her academic affiliation with Princeton and the cross-border implications of her detention spurred statements from foreign governments and human rights groups during the period she was unaccounted for. The involvement of Kata'ib Hezbollah, as cited by Israeli authorities, added to concerns because the group has been implicated in past attacks and is one of several militias operating in Iraq.

Officials did not provide an immediate timetable for Tsurkov's departure from Iraq or for any medical evaluation or debriefing. Further information about the investigation into her abduction and the role, if any, of other parties has not been released.

This is a developing story; additional details were not immediately available.