US journalist Shelly Kittleson to be released after kidnap in Iraq, militia says

US Journalist Shelly Kittleson Set to Be Freed After Baghdad Kidnapping, Militia Announces

An Iran-backed militia has confirmed the release of Shelly Kittleson, a US freelance journalist kidnapped in Baghdad one week prior. Kataib Hezbollah stated on Tuesday that Kittleson would be freed on the condition she departs Iraq immediately. Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, a security official in the group, issued a statement:

“In recognition of the national stances of the outgoing prime minister, we have decided to release the American defendant Shelly Kittleson.”

According to reports from The New York Times and Associated Press, Kittleson was released on Tuesday, as per Iraqi officials. However, her current whereabouts remain uncertain. When Kittleson was taken, Iraqi authorities indicated security forces had pursued the suspects, resulting in a kidnapper’s vehicle flipping and the arrest of one individual.

Recently, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani directed security agencies to target individuals involved in the kidnapping of foreign nationals. In another message, Assaf mentioned that the group plans to unveil a video demonstrating Kittleson’s “involvement and actions in Iraq,” though additional specifics remain undisclosed.

This incident occurred during a series of attacks by Iran and its allied Iraqi Shia militias on US-linked targets throughout Iraq and the surrounding areas since the escalation of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Kittleson’s friend and emergency contact, CNN national security analyst Alex Plitsas, shared that he had viewed the “alleged statement” regarding her release but noted the absence of official confirmation from the US government.

It is believed that US officials reached out to Kittleson multiple times prior to her abduction to alert her of potential threats. Plitsas previously told CBS, the BBC’s US news partner, that Kittleson had been warned by the US government about a specific threat from Iran-backed paramilitaries. He stated Kittleson was informed her name appeared on a list held by Kataib Hezbollah, which was said to be plotting to kidnap or kill female journalists.

Based in Rome, Italy, Kittleson has reported on conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Her professional profile on X lists her affiliations with various media outlets. The US State Department has issued a warning advising citizens against traveling to Iraq.