Iraqi security forces guard at the entrance to the Green Zone in Baghdad in October.
Ahmed Saad / Reuters
U.S. authorities are working to locate several Americans who have gone missing in Iraq's capital, Baghdad, officials said Sunday.
The Arab news outlet Al Arabiya first reported that three Americans and their interpreter were "kidnapped" in the city's south by armed militants.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad later confirmed to the Associated Press that "several" Americans were missing.
"We are working in full cooperation with Iraqi authorities to locate the missing Americans," embassy spokesman Scott Bolz told the AP.
A "senior security official" in Baghdad told CNN that three American contractors went missing two days ago.
"A company filed a report Sunday about three of its staff going missing two days ago," the official said. "They are American contractors. We are looking into this report."
State Department spokesman John Kirby had told BuzzFeed News in a statement that diplomats were aware of the reports.
"The safety and security of American citizens overseas is our highest priority," he said. "We are working with Iraqi authorities to locate and recover the individuals."
The Iraqi capital has been the scene of bloodshed in recent days, with ISIS last week claiming responsibility for an attack on a mall on Monday in which at least 18 people were killed.
Claudia Koerner contributed to this report.
This is a developing news story. Check back for updates or follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.
SOURCE: BuzzFeed
No comments:
Post a Comment