Kidnapped Army linguist returning to San Diego

April 03, 2010 07:31 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 07:01 am IST - SAN DIEGO

After more than two months in captivity in Baghdad, a U.S. Army linguist is set to return home to San Diego, authorities said.

Issa Salomi, 60, was expected to arrive sometime before Sunday, said Maj. Kimberly Holman, a spokeswoman for the California National Guard.

Mr. Salomi arrived in San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday for medical tests and debriefings with Army officials at Fort Sam Houston.

“We are preparing to reunite after what has been a very trying and emotional experience,” his family said in a statement released by the National Guard. “He has expressed so many feelings - great joy, gratitude and also fatigue. He is very much looking forward to coming home.”

Mr. Salomi has not made a public appearance since the Pentagon announced his release March 27 but issued a statement saying he was “safe, healthy and unharmed.” He said it was one of the most satisfying moments of his life when his plane touched down on U.S. soil.

The family asked for privacy.

A Shiite extremist group claimed responsibility for the January 23 kidnapping and posted a video online that showed a man wearing military fatigues, reading a list of demands for the release of militants, the prosecution of Blackwater guards and an immediate U.S. troop withdrawal.

The group issued a statement indicating Mr. Salomi’s release came in exchange for the release by the Iraqi government of four of its members.

Asaib Ahl al—Haq, known in English as the League of the Righteous, said the four were freed “in response to our demands following the capture of the American officer” a reference to Mr. Salomi, who was not identified by name.

Mr. Salomi was raised in Baghdad as the youngest of four children and studied civil engineering in England. His father worked as a photographer for the Iraqi monarchy.

Mr. Salomi became a U.S. citizen and returned to Iraq in 2007 to work as a linguist for American troops, the Army says.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.