hostage

Person taken prisoner as a means of exerting pressure on a third party, usually with threats of death or injury.

In 1979, 63 staff members of the US embassy in Tehran were taken by the Iranians. Following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait August 1990, about 9,000 Westerners were held in Kuwait and Iraq; they were gradually released later that year.

September–November 1991 saw the release of the longest-held British hostages in Lebanon, Terry Waite and John McCarthy (captured 20 January 1987 and 17 April 1986 respectively); other hostages released included Jackie Mann (captured 12 May 1989) and Jesse Turner (captured 24 January 1987).