American journalist Shelly Kittleson was reportedly freed on Tuesday after being kidnapped by the Iranian-backed militia, Kataib Hezbollah, in Baghdad a week earlier.
Kittleson, 49, from Monticello, Wisconsin, was released under the condition that she must leave Iraq immediately. She was abducted on March 31 by four armed men.
With two decades of experience covering the Middle East for various news organizations, Kittleson was released as part of a deal that involved freeing several members of the Kataib Hezbollah group, Iraqi officials shared with the New York Times.
Kataib Hezbollah is known for its significant influence in Iraq and its connections to Iran’s Quds Force, which is associated with the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC).
The militia’s security chief, Abu Mujahid Aasafin, confirmed Kittleson’s release via a post on Telegram, stating that the decision was made in acknowledgment of the former Prime Minister’s patriotic stance. He stressed that such an initiative would not be repeated, given the ongoing conflict with what he termed the “Zionist-American enemy”.
Before her capture, Kittleson had been warned about her safety multiple times. Her contact in the U.S., Alex Plitsas, revealed that Kataib Hezbollah had been targeting female journalists with threats of kidnapping or harm.
Despite these risks, Kittleson opted to continue her reporting. Journalist Kiran Nazish mentioned that she had been staying with a local family who assured her of their protection. In a message to Nazish, Kittleson acknowledged the warnings but insisted she was “doing what she had always done.”
Nazish emphasized Kittleson’s extensive experience, noting her familiarity with the challenges in Iraq and Syria. Currently, Kittleson’s exact whereabouts following her release have not been disclosed.
