Three US citizens abducted in Baghdad

Citing its own sources, it said the Americans were “contractors or trainers” employed by United States companies at the Baghdad airport.

“We are aware of reports that American citizens are missing in Iraq”, U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

Three American nationals kidnapped in the Iraqi capital Baghdad were taken from a “suspicious apartment” which they had visited for “drinking and women”, a local police colonel has claimed.

Kidnappers in Iraq have recently seized groups of Qataris and Turks, but it has been years since Americans were abducted, with Iraqis suffering the most from kidnappings for ransoms or to settle scores.

The officials said they were now searching for the men, whose names have not been released. “We are looking into this report”, said the official, according to CNN. Two senior security officials said the missing Americans are of Iraqi origin. “I think they should hold responsibility”, said Khalid bin Mohammad al-Attiyah, speaking on the sidelines of a rights conference in Doha.

Kerik issued his warning on “Newsmax Prime”, as he and host J.D. Hayworth discussed the alarming disappearance of three Americans in Iraq after they allegedly were kidnapped at gunpoint.

The kidnapping of the Americans comes at a time of deteriorating security in and around the Iraqi capital after months of relative calm.

Iraqi special operations forces have been leading the fight against Islamic State, said O’Shea, and they had been among the best trained forces in the Arab world until the USA pullout in 2010.

Dubai-based news channel Al Arabiya said on Sunday that three USA nationals had been kidnapped with their translator.

Shia gunmen are believed to have been behind the abduction a year ago of a group of Turkish construction workers, who were later freed, and of a party of hunters from Qatar, a situation which is still under negotiation, our correspondent adds.

The capital has been largely free of Islamic State militants, but lately has seen a recent increase in violence.