Aban Abdel Malek Mahmoud Elias was an Iraqi American civil engineer who was born in Iraq, lived in Denver, Colorado, then returned to Iraq to help the people build back the country from the mass destructions that happened in the war with Iran.
He was shown being held hostage in a video on Al Arabiya television station.
A transcript provided by Al Arabiya quoted him as saying in English: "My name is Aban Elias from Denver, Colorado.
"As an engineer working on road projects in Iraq, he would reportedly coordinate with the Pentagon.
Aban Elias was married and had three sons, who were aged 1, 4 and 6 at the time of his kidnapping.