Kurdish authorities 'detain' Japanese journalist in Iraq
Kurdish authorities 'detain' Japanese journalist in Iraq
Peshmerga authorities are reportedly holding a Japanese journalist who was in Iraq covering the Mosul offensive, with reasons to why he was detained not yet known.
1 min read
Kosuke Tsuneoka is being held by Peshmerga forces [Getty]
Kurdish authorities have detained a Japanese freelance journalist covering the fighting in Iraq, according to Japan's government and media reports.
Japanese government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday that Japan was aware that Kosuke Tsuneoka had been detained by "government authorities of the Kurdish region."
Tsuneoka was reporting on the battle to recapture the city of Mosul from the Islamic State group, Japan's Kyodo News agency reported.
He is being held by Kurdish military forces known as the Peshmerga, Kyodo said, but it is still unclear why he was detained.
"We are still confirming details of his charges with local authorities," Suga said.
He added that the Japanese Embassy in Iraq was requesting access to Tsuneoka and calling for appropriate treatment of him while he is being investigated.
Iraqi forces and their Kurdish allies, Sunni tribesmen and Shia militias have been converging on Mosul from all directions since October 17, but progress has been uneven.
Japanese government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said on Tuesday that Japan was aware that Kosuke Tsuneoka had been detained by "government authorities of the Kurdish region."
Tsuneoka was reporting on the battle to recapture the city of Mosul from the Islamic State group, Japan's Kyodo News agency reported.
He is being held by Kurdish military forces known as the Peshmerga, Kyodo said, but it is still unclear why he was detained.
"We are still confirming details of his charges with local authorities," Suga said.
He added that the Japanese Embassy in Iraq was requesting access to Tsuneoka and calling for appropriate treatment of him while he is being investigated.
Iraqi forces and their Kurdish allies, Sunni tribesmen and Shia militias have been converging on Mosul from all directions since October 17, but progress has been uneven.
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