A 21-year-old Yazidi woman, Fawzia Sido, who was kidnapped by ISIS militants in Iraq over a decade ago, has been freed in Gaza through a US-led operation involving Israel, Jordan, and Iraq. Fawzia was captured at the age of 11 during ISIS’s 2014 campaign against the Yazidis, which the UN has described as genocide. More than 5,000 Yazidis were killed and thousands more kidnapped during this period. Fawzia had been trafficked to Gaza, where she remained in captivity for years.
The rescue operation, which took months of planning, was made possible after her captor was reportedly killed in an Israeli strike during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Following his death, Fawzia managed to escape and took refuge in a hideout. Iraqi officials, who had been in contact with her for months, coordinated with US authorities, who arranged her safe evacuation with the help of Israel and other international actors. Although specific details of the operation have not been disclosed, it was a collaborative effort to ensure her safe return.
Fawzia has since been reunited with her family in northern Iraq. Iraqi officials have said she is in good physical condition but deeply traumatized by her long ordeal. Her story highlights the ongoing plight of the Yazidi community, with more than 6,000 captured by ISIS in 2014, many sold into sexual slavery or trained as child soldiers. While over 3,500 Yazidis have been rescued or freed, around 2,600 remain missing.
