Special forces were conducting search operations for three Americans who were kidnapped from a "suspicious apartment" in Baghdad. (AFP photo)
Baghdad:
Search operations were underway Monday for three Americans kidnapped from a "suspicious apartment" in Baghdad, in a rare abduction of Western nationals in the Iraqi capital.
Kidnappers in Iraq have recently seized groups of Qataris and Turks, but it has been years since Americans were abducted, with Iraqis suffering the most from kidnappings for ransoms or to settle scores.
The ISIS group, which overran large areas in 2014, has abducted thousands of people in Iraq, while Shia paramilitary forces opposed to the jihadists have also carried out kidnappings.
"Three people carrying American nationality were kidnapped while they were in Dura... inside a suspicious apartment," a spokesman for the Baghdad security command said in a statement.
"Security forces have begun searching for them," he said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the abductions and the identities and employment of the victims were unclear.
A police colonel said on condition of anonymity that an Iraqi translator took the Americans for "drinking and women" at an apartment in the Dura area.
Militiamen "attacked the place", the colonel said, adding that "they were kidnapped from inside the apartment, not from the street."
They were apparently taken to another area, as Dura was searched and they were not found, the officer said.
He said that the translator was also kidnapped.
Rise in kidnappings
Brothels and alcohol shops have been repeatedly targeted by powerful Shia militia groups in Baghdad over the years.
Iraqi parliament speaker Salim al-Juburi condemned the rise in "cases of foreigners being kidnapped in Iraq," saying it would harm the country's relations with other states.
"The kidnapping of the American citizens yesterday, and before them the Qatari hunters, whose fate is still unknown, without a doubt indicates the increasing work of organised gangs in Iraq," Juburi said in a statement.
US State Department spokesman John Kirby said Sunday that the US was "working with the full cooperation of the Iraqi authorities to locate and recover the individuals."
Both Juburi and the police colonel said the kidnappings took place Sunday, but some reports indicated they happened earlier.
Iraq turned to paramilitary forces dominated by Iran-backed Shia militias in 2014 to help combat ISIS terrorists.
These groups, which fall under an umbrella organisation known as the Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation units, have played a key role in the fight against ISIS.
But they and their affiliates have also been accused of abuses including summary executions, kidnappings and destruction of property.
The US is leading a coalition of countries that have bombed thousands of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria and which are providing training to Baghdad's forces.
Washington has also dispatched special forces to Iraq to carry out raids against the terrorists.
Kidnappers in Iraq have recently seized groups of Qataris and Turks, but it has been years since Americans were abducted, with Iraqis suffering the most from kidnappings for ransoms or to settle scores.
The ISIS group, which overran large areas in 2014, has abducted thousands of people in Iraq, while Shia paramilitary forces opposed to the jihadists have also carried out kidnappings.
"Three people carrying American nationality were kidnapped while they were in Dura... inside a suspicious apartment," a spokesman for the Baghdad security command said in a statement.
"Security forces have begun searching for them," he said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the abductions and the identities and employment of the victims were unclear.
A police colonel said on condition of anonymity that an Iraqi translator took the Americans for "drinking and women" at an apartment in the Dura area.
Militiamen "attacked the place", the colonel said, adding that "they were kidnapped from inside the apartment, not from the street."
They were apparently taken to another area, as Dura was searched and they were not found, the officer said.
He said that the translator was also kidnapped.
Rise in kidnappings
Brothels and alcohol shops have been repeatedly targeted by powerful Shia militia groups in Baghdad over the years.
Iraqi parliament speaker Salim al-Juburi condemned the rise in "cases of foreigners being kidnapped in Iraq," saying it would harm the country's relations with other states.
"The kidnapping of the American citizens yesterday, and before them the Qatari hunters, whose fate is still unknown, without a doubt indicates the increasing work of organised gangs in Iraq," Juburi said in a statement.
US State Department spokesman John Kirby said Sunday that the US was "working with the full cooperation of the Iraqi authorities to locate and recover the individuals."
Both Juburi and the police colonel said the kidnappings took place Sunday, but some reports indicated they happened earlier.
Iraq turned to paramilitary forces dominated by Iran-backed Shia militias in 2014 to help combat ISIS terrorists.
These groups, which fall under an umbrella organisation known as the Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation units, have played a key role in the fight against ISIS.
But they and their affiliates have also been accused of abuses including summary executions, kidnappings and destruction of property.
The US is leading a coalition of countries that have bombed thousands of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria and which are providing training to Baghdad's forces.
Washington has also dispatched special forces to Iraq to carry out raids against the terrorists.
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