Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov held captive in Iraq since March

An Israeli-Russian researcher who went missing successful Iraq successful March is being held captive by a Shia militia, says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a PhD pupil astatine Princeton University successful the United States, was conducting probe successful Baghdad erstwhile she was kidnapped.

"We clasp Iraq liable for her information and well-being," Mr Netanyahu's bureau said.

Ms Tsurkov is being held by Kataib Hezbollah, according to Israel.

It did not specify what the group's demands were.

Kataib Hezbollah (Brigades of the Party of God) is simply a almighty Iraqi Shia militia that gets fiscal and subject enactment from Iran. The US has designated the radical arsenic a violent organisation since 2009.

Israel said the substance was being handled by "relevant parties... retired of concern" for Ms Tsurkov's "security and well-being".

Iraq and Israel bash not stock diplomatic relations. Last year, Iraq's parliament passed a instrumentality that criminalises immoderate effort to normalise ties with Israel, which it has ne'er recognised.

Ms Tsurkov's household said successful a connection that they clasp "the Iraqi authorities arsenic straight liable for her safety", the Washington Post reported.

Ms Tsurkov entered Iraq connected her Russian passport, Mr Netanyahu's bureau said.

The New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, a Washington-based deliberation vessel wherever Ms Tsurkov is simply a fellow, said she past contacted them successful March and that they aboriginal learnt from sources of her kidnap by a "pro-Iranian militia".

"Our archetypal instinct was to outcry astir her disappearance connected the internet, successful the media and connected these pages," the institute said successful a connection successful its magazine, adding that it decided not to bash truthful due to the fact that of her family's wishes and successful the anticipation of a speedy resolution.

According to Ms Tsurkov's website, her probe focuses connected the Levant - a humanities word that refers to a ample geographical portion including present-day Israel, Syria and different areas - and "the Syrian uprising and civilian war".

New Lines said Ms Tsurkov's concern was analyzable by that information that she was "an outspoken critic" of the 3 countries that whitethorn beryllium progressive successful negotiations for her release: Israel, Iran and Russia.

"All of america consciousness that the United States needs to beryllium progressive successful immoderate mode successful helping [Ms Tsurkov]," it said, pointing to her engagement with New Lines and Princeton.

In a connection posted connected Twitter, Princeton said: "We are profoundly acrophobic for her information and well-being, and we are anxious for her to beryllium capable to rejoin her household and resume her studies."

The US, Russia, Iran and Iraq person not officially commented yet.