Following his kidnapping his abductors announced that they would hold him until US Forces pulled out of Qaim, however Lieutenant-Colonel Steven Boylan, a spokesman for US forces in Iraq, said: "We don't respond to insurgent or terrorist demands."[1] Relatives of Mahalawi along with a government official announced that Mahalawi had been released on 15 May, although this later proved to be incorrect.[6] Mahalawi was later handed to a different kidnapper cell.[3]