In brief
US freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Baghdad, reportedly linked to Iran-backed militia. An Iraqi interior ministry statement described a pursuit leading to the arrest of one suspect. The State Department confirmed awareness of the situation, highlighting past warnings issued to Kittleson regarding potential threats to her safety. Local officials are acting at high levels to locate the remaining abductors and ensure her safe return.
A US freelance journalist has been kidnapped in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, and one of the suspects is linked to an Iran-backed militia, Iraqi and US officials say. Shelly Kittleson was abducted on Tuesday evening, said Al-Monitor, a news outlet for which she has contributed articles. The Iraqi interior ministry stated that security forces had pursued the reporter's abductors, leading to the overturning of one of the kidnappers' vehicles and the arrest of a suspect. A US state department official confirmed that an individual with ties to an Iranian-aligned militia group, Kataib Hezbollah, was detained by Iraqi authorities. Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, acknowledged the abduction of an American journalist without naming Kittleson, and emphasized ongoing coordination with the FBI to facilitate her release. Reports indicate that US officials had previously warned Kittleson of threats against her safety, including a warning given just the night before her abduction. The state department stated, 'Due to privacy and other considerations, we have nothing further to share at this time.' Al-Monitor reported that Kittleson was taken near a hotel in central Baghdad, expressing alarm at her kidnapping and urging for her safe and immediate release. A local Iraqi official confirmed to CBS that authorities were operating 'at the highest level' to secure Kittleson’s return. Her emergency contact reported that Kittleson had received direct warnings about a specific threat from Iranian-backed paramilitaries. The situation remains under scrutiny, as assault plots against female journalists have been a concern. The Iraqi interior ministry has vowed to track down all involved in the kidnapping, highlighting its commitment to the law. Kittleson, based in Rome, has reported on conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, working for various outlets. The FBI and National Security Council have reportedly been in discussions regarding her situation. While Baghdad was once a hotspot for kidnappings, incidents have significantly decreased in recent years, which adds urgency and seriousness to the current case.
