Wataru Nakano
フリージャーナリストの常岡浩介さん（47）が、イラク北部のモスル近郊で、クルド人が自治するクルディスタン地域政府（KRG）に拘束されていたことが10月31日、分かった。KRGはこの地域周辺で、過激派組織IS（イスラム国）と戦闘を繰り広げている。NHKニュースなどが報じた。
常岡さんは、イラク軍やクルド人部隊が１０月から進めているＩＳのイラク最大の拠点モスルの奪還作戦を取材するため、イラク北部を訪れていました。常岡さんが拘束された場所や日時など詳しいことはいまのところ明らかになっていませんが、先月２６日までツイッターに投稿していることから、拘束されたのはそれ以降と見られます。
イラクの日本大使館は拘束時の状況や具体的な理由についてクルド自治政府当局に確認するとともに、適切な身柄の扱いを求めていくとしています。日本の外務省は、イラク全土に危険情報を出しており、モスル近郊については、「退避勧告」を出しています。
（モスル奪還作戦取材 日本人記者が拘束される | NHKニュースより 2016/11/01 01:19）
外務省によると、常岡さんがイラクで地域政府当局に拘束されたのは数日前とみられ、けがはしていないという。常岡さんは、2015年6月に内戦下のシリアに入国した後、過激派組織に拘束されているとされるジャーナリスト安田純平さんとも親交がある。
常岡さんはTwitterに、イラク軍のモスル奪還作戦を現地で取材している内容の投稿をしていた。
※「PKK」とは反政府武装組織「クルド労働者党」のこと
モスルはシリア北部ラッカと並ぶISの重要拠点で、アメリカの空爆支援を受けたイラク軍などとの攻防戦が激化。イラクのアバディ首相は10月17日、奪還作戦の開始を宣言していた。
常岡さんは長崎県島原市生まれ。早稲田大学卒業後にNBC長崎放送に入り、その後はフリーランスに。2010年4月から5カ月間、アフガニスタンで武装勢力に拘束される。
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モスル奪還作戦
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(01 of19)
A member of Peshmerga forces sits in the back of the military vehicle in the east of Mosul during operation to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(02 of19)
Peshmerga forces walk in the east of Mosul during operation to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(03 of19)
Smoke rises from clashes in the east of Mosul during clashes with Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(04 of19)
Peshmerga forces advance in the east of Mosul to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(05 of19)
Iraq\'s Kurdistan region\'s President Massoud Barzani (C) speaks during a news conference on the outskirts of Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(06 of19)
A member of Peshmerga forces stands on a military vehicle in the east of Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(07 of19)
Peshmerga forces advance in the east of Mosul to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(08 of19)
Peshmerga forces advance in the east of Mosul to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(09 of19)
Peshmerga forces with western forces advance in the east of Mosul to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(10 of19)
Smoke rises from Islamic state positions after an airstrike by coalition forces in villages surrounding Mosul, in Khazer, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Mosul, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. Iraqi government and Kurdish forces, backed by U.S.-led coalition air and ground support, launched coordinated military operations early on Monday as the long-awaited fight to wrest the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State fighters got underway.(AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(11 of19)
A peshmerga convoy drives towards a frontline in Khazer, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Mosul, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. The Iraqi military and the country\'s Kurdish forces say they launched operations to the south and east of militant-held Mosul early Monday morning. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(12 of19)
FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 14, 2016 file photo, Iraqi special forces soldiers deployed for an offensive to retake Mosul from Islamic State militants prepare to move out from a camp near Khazer, Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of military operations to liberate the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State militants on Monday, launching the country on its toughest battle since American troops left nearly five years ago.(AP Photo/Adam Schreck, File) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
SYRIA-IRAQ-CONFLICT-REFUGEES(13 of19)
Youth sit outside a UNHCR tent at a refugee camp housing Iraqi families who fled fighting in the Mosul area on October 17, 2016 in the northeastern town of al-Hol in Syria\'s Hasakeh province. \nThe battle to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from jihadists could unleash a massive humanitarian crisis, potentially pushing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes as winter sets in. / AFP / DELIL SOULEIMAN (Photo credit should read DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:DELIL SOULEIMAN via Getty Images)
SYRIA-IRAQ-CONFLICT-REFUGEES(14 of19)
A woman walks with children at a refugee camp housing Iraqi families who fled fighting in the Mosul area on October 17, 2016 in the northeastern town of al-Hol in Syria\'s Hasakeh province. \nThe battle to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from jihadists could unleash a massive humanitarian crisis, potentially pushing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes as winter sets in. / AFP / DELIL SOULEIMAN (Photo credit should read DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:DELIL SOULEIMAN via Getty Images)
Operation to liberate Iraqs Mosul from Daesh(15 of19)
MOSUL, IRAQ - OCTOBER 17: Peshmerga forces located Khazir front at Zardak Mountain assemble an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or) with the guidance of US soldiers as they prepare to attack Daesh targets during an operation to retake Iraq\'s Mosul from Daesh in Mosul, Iraq on October 17, 2016. A much anticipated Mosul offensive to liberate the city from Daesh began midnight Sunday, according to Iraqi Prime Minister. (Photo by Emrah Yorulmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
IRAQ-CONFLICT(16 of19)
Smoke billows as Iraqi forces hold a position on October 17, 2016 in the area of al-Shurah, some 45 kms south of Mosul, while advancing towards the city to retake it from the Islamic State (IS) group jihadists.\nSome 30,000 federal forces are leading the offensive, backed by air and ground support from a 60-nation US-led coalition, in what is expected to be a long and difficult assault on IS\'s last major Iraqi stronghold.\n\n / AFP / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AHMAD AL-RUBAYE via Getty Images)
IRAQ-CONFLICT(17 of19)
Smoke billows as Iraqi forces deploy on October 17, 2016 in the area of al-Shurah, some 45 kms south of Mosul, while advancing towards the city to retake it from the Islamic State (IS) group jihadists.\nSome 30,000 federal forces are leading the offensive, backed by air and ground support from a 60-nation US-led coalition, in what is expected to be a long and difficult assault on IS\'s last major Iraqi stronghold.\n\n / AFP / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AHMAD AL-RUBAYE via Getty Images)
IRAQ-CONFLICT(18 of19)
Iraqi forces deploy on October 17, 2016 in the area of al-Shurah, some 45 kms south of Mosul, as they advance towards the city to retake it from the Islamic State (IS) group jihadists.\nSome 30,000 federal forces are leading the offensive, backed by air and ground support from a 60-nation US-led coalition, in what is expected to be a long and difficult assault on IS\'s last major Iraqi stronghold.\n\n / AFP / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AHMAD AL-RUBAYE via Getty Images)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(19 of19)
A peshmerga convoy drives towards a frontline in Khazer, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Mosul, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. Iraqi government and Kurdish forces, backed by U.S.-led coalition air and ground support, launched coordinated military operations early on Monday as the long-awaited fight to wrest the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State fighters got underway.(AP Photo) (credit:Uncredited/AP)
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