BBC News
A freelance journalist from the United States, Shelly Kittleson, has been abducted in Baghdad, with reports indicating that one of the suspects has connections to an Iran-backed militia, according to Iraqi and US authorities.
Kittleson was abducted on Tuesday evening, as reported by Al-Monitor, a news organization for which she has previously contributed content.
The Iraqi Ministry of Interior stated that security forces pursued the individuals responsible for the abduction, resulting in the overturning of one of the kidnappers' vehicles and the subsequent arrest of a suspect.
A US State Department official disclosed that an individual affiliated with the Kataib Hezbollah militia, known for its ties to Iranian interests, has been apprehended by Iraqi officials.
Dylan Johnson, the Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, confirmed the abduction of an American journalist, although he did not specifically name Kittleson. In a post on X, he noted, "The State Department previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them, and we will continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible."
It has come to light that US officials had reached out to Kittleson multiple times to warn her about threats directed towards her safety, including a communication as late as the previous night.
In a statement to the BBC, the State Department remarked: "Due to privacy and other considerations, we have nothing further to share at this time."
Al-Monitor, headquartered in the US, cited local news sources indicating that Kittleson was taken near a hotel located in the central area of Baghdad. Furthermore, the State Department confirmed its awareness of Kittleson’s kidnapping and its ongoing collaboration with the Iraqi government to facilitate her safe return.
The organization expressed deep concern regarding her abduction and insisted on her immediate release.
An Iraqi official informed CBS, a partner of the BBC in the US, that local authorities are operating "at the highest level" to secure Kittleson’s freedom.
Alex Plitsas, Kittleson’s emergency contact and a CNN national security analyst, shared with CBS that Kittleson had received warnings from the US government about a particular threat posed by Iran-backed paramilitary groups, specifically noting that Kataib Hezbollah was allegedly considering actions against female journalists.
Plitsas indicated that Kittleson was aware that her name appeared on a list held by Kataib Hezbollah. Another source verified that she had been informed of the risk but believed the information to be inaccurate.
According to a translated statement from the Ministry of Interior: "Security forces immediately launched an operation to apprehend the perpetrators, acting on precise intelligence and through intensive field operations, tracking the kidnappers' movements."
The statement continued: "The pursuit resulted in the interception of a vehicle belonging to the kidnappers, which overturned as they attempted to escape."
The Ministry did not disclose the name of the suspect, instead referring to the abductors as "unknown individuals."
"The Ministry affirms that efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining perpetrators and secure the release of the abducted woman, and to take due legal action against all those involved in this criminal act, in accordance with the law," it added.
Kittleson, who is based in Rome, Italy, has reported on conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Her professional background, detailed in her social media bio, includes contributions to numerous publications.
The FBI, National Security Council, State Department, Delta Force, and Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service are all engaged in discussions concerning her abduction, sources familiar with the case informed CBS.
While Baghdad has a history marked by kidnappings, such events have diminished as the security landscape in Iraq has improved in recent years.
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