US Says missing contractor in Iraq, Issa Salomi of El Cajon CA, returns

Update March 28

Family Rejoices at release of contractor in Iraq

SAN DIEGO—The family of an Iraqi-American contractor said to have been kidnapped in Baghdad in January rejoiced Saturday over his release, saying they did not believe they would see him alive again.

Issa Salomi, 60, spoke with his 27-year-old son Roger Friday and told him that memories of the birth of the oldest of his four boys sustained him during captivity, said Vivian Tilley, a niece.

A few hours later, Salomi called his wife of 30 years, Mura Salomi, and asked for her homemade tabbouleh when he arrived home.

Update  March 27

Civilian believed to be kidnapped in Baghdad, returns

An Army civilian contractor from El Cajon, believed kidnapped in Baghdad in January, has been “returned to military control,” the Pentagon announced Saturday.

Issa T. Salomi, 60, turned up on Thursday, but the military released no information about where or how he returned to the military.

The Pentagon referred questions to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, which has not responded to questions. Salomi was unaccounted for on Jan. 23 and believed to have been kidnapped in Baghdad, where he was assigned to U.S. Forces-Iraq, the Defense Department said. Salomi was declared “Excused Absence Whereabouts Unknown.”

(AP) – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON — The U.S. says an Iraqi-American contractor said to have been kidnapped in Baghdad in January by Shiite militiamen is back in American hands.

A Shiite extremist group claimed responsibility for the Jan. 23 kidnapping of Issa Salomi of El Cajon, Calif. A Pentagon statement on Saturday gave no details about Salomi’s return on Thursday or about his disappearance.

The statement said the circumstances of the case are under investigation.

An Iraqi defense official said in February that Salomi was kidnapped by the militiamen who had lured Salomi into central Baghdad by promising to help find distant relatives.

Salomi’s permanent assignment is at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Original Story here

See Also

Pentagon Identifies Contractor Missing in Iraq

The Missing Man Blog