Abduction of American Journalist in Baghdad

Freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson was abducted in Baghdad on Tuesday night. The US State Department indicated that an individual detained by Iraqi authorities has affiliations with Kataib Hezbollah, a Shiite militia that receives support from Iran.

Iraq’s interior ministry confirmed the kidnapping of a foreign journalist but did not specify who it was. However, two unnamed Iraqi security officials later revealed to the Associated Press that the victim was a female U.S. citizen.

Surveillance footage showed the incident, depicting two men confronting Kittleson on a street corner in central Baghdad, ultimately forcing her into a vehicle, seemingly with some struggle involved.

According to Iraqi security sources, the kidnappers escaped in two cars, one of which crashed during a heated chase near al-Haswa, south of the capital. The kidnappers managed to switch to another vehicle, evading capture.

Reports suggest that Iraqi security forces have apprehended one suspect, though others involved are still at large.

Al-Monitor, a news outlet familiar with Kittleson’s work, called for her “safe and immediate release” upon confirming her abduction.

“We support her important reporting from the region and call for her prompt return to continue her important work,” the platform stated.

Dylan Johnson, the Assistant Secretary of State for International Public Affairs, mentioned that the State Department is “aware of the reported kidnapping.” He added that the agency had been previously informed about threats to Kittleson and would coordinate with the FBI to facilitate her release at the earliest.

Authorities also reported that a person linked to Kataib Hezbollah, believed to be involved in the kidnapping, has been detained.

Johnson reiterated a Level 4 travel advisory for Iraq, urging all Americans, particularly those in media, to exit the country without delay.

According to various media sources, Kittleson, aged 49 and a seasoned correspondent with experience covering conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, was indeed the victim. Of Italian descent, she is typically based in Rome but travels frequently to the Middle East.

Alex Pristas, an Atlantic Council fellow and Kittleson’s friend, mentioned she had been informed by the FBI that her name was included on a “kidnap or kill” list by Kataib Hezbollah.

Despite the risks, Kittleson chose to stay in Baghdad to continue her reporting and had designated Pristas as her primary emergency contact.

US officials indicated that Kittleson had received numerous warnings about threats against her, including one alerting her that KH particularly aimed to target female journalists. The last warning came just before her abduction.

Kiran Natish, the founder of the Women’s Union in Journalism, noted that Kittleson arrived in Baghdad last Thursday and was staying with family members for safety.

Kataib Hezbollah is regarded as one of Iraq’s strongest Shiite militias, closely linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The group’s founder was killed alongside Qassem Soleimani during a US airstrike in January 2020.

In the years that followed, American and Israeli forces have engaged KH targets multiple times, especially since the onset of Operation Epic Fury in late February. On March 14, KH claimed significant losses due to a US airstrike in Baghdad.

KH, along with other Shiite militants, was part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a paramilitary organization claiming loyalty to Iraq’s government during the war against ISIS. Nonetheless, their primary allegiance remains to Iran, and they have collectively identified as the “Islamic Resistance Movement of Iraq” during the Gaza conflict.