[…]  We are aware of reports that American citizens are missing in Iraq,” US State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

“We are working with the full cooperation of the Iraqi authorities to locate and recover the individuals,” Kirby added, without providing details about their number or the circumstances of their disappearance. (link)

(Independent) Three Americans have been kidnapped by militants in the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad.

According to Arab news channel Al-Arabiya, well-informed sources in Baghdad have confirmed that the kidnapping took place in the south of the city on Sunday.

The US State Department confirmed it was aware of the reports, and said it was working with Iraqi authorities to locate and recover the missing Americans.  The identities of the kidnap victims or the militias have not yet been confirmed.

The reported kidnapping comes at a time of increased tensions between the predominantly Shia militias of southern Iraq and US-backed Saudi Arabia, following the latter’s execution of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr. (link)