Reports: Iraqi intelligence service releases American hostages captured by Shi'ite militias

According to a member of the Security and Defense committee in the Iraqi parliament, the US nationals were kidnapped from a house of prostitution in the area.

By MAAYAN GROISMAN
A WOMAN raises a weapon and the Iraqi flag in celebration after Iraqi government troops and militias drove Islamic State insurgents out of the town of al-Alam on Tuesday, clearing a final hurdle for an assault on the city of Tikrit. The Arabic characterson the flag read, ‘God is the greatest.’ (photo credit: REUTERS)
A WOMAN raises a weapon and the Iraqi flag in celebration after Iraqi government troops and militias drove Islamic State insurgents out of the town of al-Alam on Tuesday, clearing a final hurdle for an assault on the city of Tikrit. The Arabic characterson the flag read, ‘God is the greatest.’
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Iraqi intelligence service declared on Tuesday that it has successfully released the three American hostages that were captured by Iranian-backed militias in Baghdad in January, Iraqi media reported on Tuesday.
On January 18, three American contractors of Iraqi origin and an Iraqi translator were kidnapped by Shi'ite militias in Baghdad's Dora neighborhood.
According to a member of the Security and Defense committee in the Iraqi parliament, the US nationals were kidnapped from a house of prostitution in the area. He added that the militias captured them to raise funds for their operations.
The three Americans were captured shortly after another armed Shi'ite militia captured 26 Qatari fishermen from their desert hunting camp near the Saudi border in December.