In a remarkable international operation, a 21-year-old Yazidi woman kidnapped by Islamic State militants in Iraq over a decade ago has been freed from Gaza. The rescue mission, led by the United States, involved coordination between Israel, Jordan, and Iraq.
Fawzia Sido, who was abducted at the age of 11 during ISIS's brutal 2014 campaign against the Yazidi minority in Iraq, had been held captive in Gaza for years. Her captor, described as a Palestinian Hamas-ISIS member, was reportedly killed during the recent Israel-Gaza conflict, allowing Sido to escape and seek help.
The complex rescue operation took over four months to execute, with several failed attempts due to the volatile security situation in Gaza. Iraqi officials had maintained contact with Sido for months before passing her information to US authorities, who then coordinated with Israel to facilitate her exit from Gaza.
Upon her rescue, Sido was found to be in good physical condition but understandably traumatized by her ordeal. She has since been reunited with her family in northern Iraq.
This rescue sheds light on the ongoing plight of Yazidis, thousands of whom were killed or kidnapped by ISIS in what the UN has classified as genocide. It also highlights the complex geopolitical landscape of the region, with multiple countries collaborating to secure Sido's freedom.
The Israeli military confirmed its involvement in the operation, stating it had coordinated with the US embassy in Jerusalem and other international actors. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry acknowledged the rescue as a joint effort with international intelligence services, though it did not explicitly mention Israel's role.
As Sido begins her journey of recovery and reintegration, her story serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of ISIS's reign of terror and the importance of continued international efforts to address its aftermath.