Missing Americans' Last Stop: Ahmed Awa

Three Americans reported to have been held by Iran for illegally crossing into Iranian territory late last month were last seen near Ahmed Awa, a mountainous village in Iraqi Kurdistan near the Iranian border. The Americans, Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 30, and Joshua Fattal, 27, were arrested by Iranian border security for illegally crossing into Iranian territory on July 31, US media quoted Iranian broadcasters as saying.

Associated Press quoted a member of the Iranian parliament as saying the authorities were considering trying them on a charge of spying.

Ahmed Awa residents were surprised that Americans would hike up the mountain without a guide, saying the path is unclear and landmines remain a risk. 

Ahmed Awa attracts summer visitors but has little tourist infrastructure. The prime attraction is a waterfall on the outskirts of town.

While border patrols have not been beefed up in this area since the Americans went missing, security forces are cautioning individuals not to venture too far outside of tourist areas.

Kurdish security forces sent two police escorts with Julie Adnan when she photographed the Ahmed Awa area for IWPR.

Police stopped Adnan from venturing toward the waterfall, saying they did not want her to risk arrest by Iranian forces. The waterfall, which is several kilometres from the border, remains open to the public.