A US military contractor is believed to have been kidnapped in Iraq after a group released a video showing a man being held captive by those calling itself Asaib Ahl al-Haq. Defense officials just hours earlier announced that 60-year-old Issa T Salomi had been missing since January 23. In the video (less than two minutes), the hostage reads the demands for the release of detainees who had "resisted occupation" and "never been involved in any serious crime against their fellow innocent Iraqis". Also a demand was made for the conviction of US security firm Blackwater/Xe accused of killing unarmed Iraqi citizens in 2007.

A senior leader of the group reported to Reuters he was seized because the government was not keeping a promise to free the group's supporters from prison.