Details are thin, but the AP reports that a joint Iraq-American security force has freed Australian hostage Douglas Wood in a military operation:

Iraqi troops, backed by U.S. forces, freed an Australian hostage after six weeks in captivity, officials said Wednesday. The release came as a suicide bomber dressed in an Iraqi army uniform blew himself up in a mess hall north of Baghdad, killing at least 25 Iraqi soldiers and injuring 27.

No details were available on the operation in Baghdad that led to the release of Douglas Wood, a 64-year-old engineer who lives in Alamo, Calif. He was abducted in late April by a militant group calling itself the Shura Council of the Mujahedeen of
Iraq.

The Australian government refused to bend to the kidnappers' demands that its 1,400 troops be withdrawn from Iraq. It sent diplomats, police and military personnel to Baghdad to seek his release.

"I am delighted to inform the House that the Australian hostage in Iraq, Mr. Douglas Wood, is safe," Prime Minister John Howard told Parliament in Canberra, Australia.

Congratulations to both of our allies for their steadfastness -- Iraq for their developing security forces, and Australia for their refusal to capitulate to terrorists. This operation sends a message to the lunatics who kidnap civilians for political purposes: you are not safe, and we will find and kill you wherever you are.

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry is

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Iraqis, Americans Free Aussie Hostage:

» Australian Hostage Douglas Wood Rescued in Iraq from The Jawa Report
Douglas Wood, a California resident with Australian citizenship, has been rescued by Iraqi forces backed by U.S. troops from his terrorist captors. Developing. Check back later for updates....... News.com Australia: AUSTRALIAN hostage Douglas Wood is w... [Read More]

Tracked on June 15, 2005 9:08 AM