Release of Captured Journalist and French Citizens
On Tuesday night, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who had been held captive, was released by Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite militias.
Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron revealed that two French nationals were freed after spending “three and a half years of detention in Iran.”
Kittleson was kidnapped on the night of March 31, 2026, in Baghdad. Her captors eluded Iraqi police during a high-speed chase, although one individual connected to Kataib Hezbollah (KH)—the dominant Iranian-backed militia in Iraq—was apprehended.
Rubio later confirmed that KH was behind Kittleson’s abduction. He expressed gratitude to the FBI, the War Department, various U.S. agencies, and the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council for her release.
Rubio stated, “This resolution reflects the Trump Administration’s unwavering commitment to the safety and security of Americans everywhere in the world.” He emphasized that the unlawful detention and kidnapping of U.S. citizens would not be tolerated, pledging to use all necessary means to hold accountable those responsible.
The administration is also focused on ensuring Kittleson’s safe exit from Iraq. It’s worth noting that she was in the country despite multiple warnings from the State Department about the dangers present, particularly as KH and similar groups were reportedly creating a list of Americans to target.
According to Al Jazeera News, a KH official disclosed that Kittleson’s release was part of a deal that involved trading her for individuals detained by the Iraqi government for plotting attacks against U.S. interests. Her freedom was contingent on her immediate departure from Iraq.
KH issued a statement praising the actions of “outgoing” Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, though it didn’t specify his role in the prisoner exchange. This was the first time Iranian proxy involvement in Kittleson’s abduction was officially acknowledged.
Although Sudani has held the prime minister position since 2022, his role is seen as temporary until a new government is in place. KH characterized Sudani’s actions as “social,” in light of U.S. attacks on Iranian proxies in Iraq, referring to those as a “patriotic stance.”
However, KH security official Abu Mujahid al-Assaf stressed that Kittleson’s release does not mark the beginning of any newfound cooperation in Iraq. He asserted, “This effort will not be repeated… we are in a state of war against our enemy America.”
On a related note, President Macron expressed gratitude for the Omani government’s role in securing the release of Cecil Kohler and Jacques Paris, two French citizens imprisoned in Iran since May 2022.
Kohler and Paris, both school teachers, had been arrested during a tourist trip in Iran and were sentenced to 20 years on dubious espionage charges. They had denied all allegations. Released from Evin prison last November, they remained under house arrest at the French embassy until they were finally allowed to leave.
The couple’s release was reportedly linked to a prisoner-swap deal involving Mahdiye Esfandiari, an Iranian woman detained in France.
Esfandiari, who was sentenced for glorifying terrorism on social media, had also recently been released from house arrest.
President Macron highlighted the end of Kohler and Paris’s “terrible ordeal” and expressed joy at their return to France. Paris described their experience as “everyday horror” but noted that they were determined to share their story and move forward with their lives.
