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, according to Al-Monitor, a news outlet for which she has contributed articles.
The Iraqi interior ministry reported that security forces had pursued Kittleson's abductors, leading to the overturning of one of their vehicles and the arrest of a suspect.
A US state department official confirmed that an individual tied 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 but did not name Kittleson.
He stated on X: 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.
Reports indicate that US officials had reached out to Kittleson multiple times to warn her of threats against her, with the last communication occurring as recently as Monday night.
The state department commented to the BBC, saying, Due to privacy and other considerations, we have nothing further to share at this time. Al-Monitor noted that Kittleson was taken near a hotel in Baghdad.
The state department affirmed that it is working alongside the Iraqi government to secure Kittleson’s release.
Al-Monitor expressed deep concern over Kittleson's kidnapping, calling for her safe and immediate release.
An Iraqi official confirmed local authorities are working diligently at the highest level to secure her release. Kittleson's emergency contact, Alex Plitsas, a CNN national security analyst, revealed that she had been warned about a specific threat from Iranian-backed paramilitaries.
Kataib Hezbollah allegedly had plans to target female journalists. Plitsas reported that Kittleson was aware of her name being on a list held by the group but initially thought the risks were overstated.
The ministry stated that a rapid response operation was launched based on precise intelligence.
Security forces intercepted a vehicle fleeing the scene of the kidnapping, which subsequently overturned.
The interior ministry did not identify the suspect, referring to the abductors as unknown individuals, but assured the public of ongoing efforts to apprehend the remaining perpetrators and secure Kittleson's release.
Kittleson, based in Rome, Italy, has covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria and has contributed to various publications.
The FBI, National Security Council, and Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service are all in discussions regarding her case, according to sources.
While Baghdad has a history of kidnappings, such incidents have decreased as the security situation in Iraq has improved in recent years.
