Three Americans who were abducted in Baghdad last month have been freed.
The U.S. State Department on February 16 welcomed the release of Americans, crediting the Iraqi government with helping to secure their return.
"We sincerely appreciate the assistance provided by the government of Iraq, and its whole-of-government effort to bring about the safe release of these individuals," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.
The three are in good health and have been handed over to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
The embassy confirmed in January that several Americans had gone missing.
Iraqi authorities said the three were kidnapped from a "suspicious apartment" without elaborating, although officials suspected a powerful Shi’ite militia was behind the kidnapping.