Three Americans Kidnapped in Baghdad Have Been Released

Last month, three US contractors were reportedly kidnapped by an armed group while visiting a home in Dora, Iraq, a neighborhood in southern Baghdad.

With the help of Iraqi security forces, the group was freed on Tuesday.

"The Department of State welcomes the news that the Government of Iraq has secured the release of three U.S. citizens who were reported as missing in January.  We sincerely appreciate the assistance provided by the Government of Iraq, and its whole-of-government effort to bring about the safe release of these individuals.  Specifically, we express our gratitude to the Iraqi Security Forces, and in particular the Ministry of Defense and the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, for their role in achieving this outcome," said Mark Toner, deputy spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said on Tuesday.