Iraqi official: Gunmen abduct up to 26 Qatari hunters

QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press

BAGHDAD (AP) — In a remote desert area in southern Iraq, unidentified gunmen driving in SUVs raided a camp for falconry hunters on Wednesday, abducting up to 26 Qataris, Iraqi officials said.

The gunmen raided the camp located in the desert in Samawah province at dawn, snatching between 19 and 26 Qataris, Ahmed Manfi, a member of the provincial council, told The Associated Press.

Two Iraqi intelligence officers were also abducted but were later released, Manfi added.

Iraq's Interior Ministry said the aim of the abduction was "to achieve political and media goals." A ministry statement said police were carrying out search operations in the area.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday evening that it has contacted "Iraqi government and concerned entities at the highest security and political levels" to ascertain details of what happened and to try to secure the hunters' release.

The Qatari statement said the hunters entered Iraq on an official permit from the Iraqi Interior Ministry and in coordination with the Iraqi Embassy in Doha. It did not specify how many were abducted or provide details on their identities.

Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah spoke with his Iraqi counterpart by phone about the matter, according to another statement carried on the Gulf country's state news agency.

Samawah is located on the Euphrates River, about 370 kilometers (230 miles) southeast of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Hunters from Gulf states, mainly Qatar, often visit Iraq's vast western and southern desert areas for hunting and purchasing falcons. Iraqi authorities approve the expeditions and provide protective forces that accompany the hunters.

Qatar is seen by Iraqis as a main supporter of Sunni militant groups, mainly the Islamic State group, which has captured large swaths of land in Iraq and neighboring Syria. Qatar denies supporting extremist groups, including IS, and is part of the U.S.-led coalition battling the group.

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Associated Press writers Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad and Adam Schreck in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.