Iraqi citizen freed after being kidnapped in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday the successful release of an Iraqi citizen who had been kidnapped in Homs Governorate in central Syria.
The Ministry’s statement read that Abu Alhssan Hamid Musaed, who had traveled from Basra to Syria three weeks ago for the purpose of marrying a Syrian woman, was freed following a coordinated effort by Iraqi and regional security forces.
The release came after intense negotiations and cooperation between the Iraqi embassies in Damascus and Beirut, the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, and direct engagement with Syrian and Lebanese security leaders, according to the statement.
The kidnappers had initially demanded a ransom of $500,000. However, the Iraqi Embassy and National Intelligence Service managed to secure Musaed’s freedom without entering into negotiations with the perpetrators, the statement added.
The involved criminals will be held accountable and dealt with according to the law by the relevant authorities.