The Iraqi police today confirmed the news about the three US nationals that have gone missing in Baghdad a few days ago. This report was further confirmed by the US Embassy based in Baghdad. Together, the two organizations are working hard to locate the missing Americans, especially since they have been reported to be kidnapped.
The report of the kidnapping first broke when Dubai-based news channel, Al Arabiya, reported the information on Sunday. The news channel cited its own sources and verified that the kidnappings involved three US nationals who were "contractors or trainers" working for US companies based in the airport. They were kidnapped in Dora on Friday.
When news of the kidnapping broke, the US government did not immediately confirm whether or not there was any truth to this, as well as the number of people who were part of the group. Today, however, the information has been confirmed but requests to respect their privacy considerations for the safety and security of those part of the kidnapped group. Along with the three Americans, an Iraqi translator was also kidnapped.
A spokesman for the US Embassy spoke to the media on Sunday and reported that they were working "in full cooperation" with officials from Iraq to help locate the Americans that were missing. According to an Iraqi police colonel, the four men were kidnapped by militiamen who were clad in military uniforms. The colonel, however, points out that the profession of the missing Americans are unknown. On other reports, a spokesman for Baghdad's Joint Operations Command shares that the kidnapped individuals were actually Iraqis who were able to acquire a US citizenship.
The kidnapping comes in a week after security in and around the capital has deteriorated. It seems like after months of a relative calm in the state, the fighting has not yet ended. Just last week, a number of attacks in Baghdad and the Diyala province caused over 50 people to get killed. The Islamic State group has claimed to be behind these terrorist attacks.
Early on Monday, security checkpoints have been set up by Iraqi police throughout the neighborhood of Dora in the hopes of locating the missing men.
