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U.S. Journalist Kidnapped in Baghdad
American journalist Shelly Kittleson was reported kidnapped in Baghdad amid prior warnings of threats linked to the militia Kata’ib Hezbollah.
Image courtesy: LinkedIn/Shelly Kittleson
American reporter Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday, according to multiple sources and an Iraqi official, heightening concerns about the safety of foreign journalists operating in the country.
Iraq’s Interior Ministry confirmed that an journalist had been taken by unidentified but did not initially disclose her identity. Authorities said one suspect had been detained and a vehicle believed to have been used in the kidnapping had been recovered.
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Alex Plitsas, who serves as Kittleson’s U.S based contact, confirmed the abduction to CBS News. He stated that U.S. officials had previously warned her about a credible threat from the Iran-backed militia Kata’ib Hezbollah, which was reportedly targeting female journalists for abduction or assassination.
Plitsas said Kittleson had been informed that her name was included on a list held by the group. Another source said she had been made aware of the risk but believed it might not be genuine.
A U.S. official added that Kittleson had received repeated alerts about potential threats, including as recently as Monday night.
Dylan Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, said in a post on X that the individual arrested by Iraqi forces had connections to Kata’ib Hezbollah. Without directly naming Kittleson, he noted that the State Department had already warned the individual about the dangers and would continue coordinating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to secure her release swiftly.
An Iraqi official told CBS News that efforts to free Kittleson are being handled “at the highest level.”
According to sources familiar with the investigation, multiple U.S. and Iraqi agencies including the FBI, National Security Council, State Department, Delta Force, and the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service are actively coordinating in response to the incident.
Kiran Nazish, head of the Coalition for Women in Journalism, said she had communicated with Kittleson shortly before her trip. Kittleson planned to stay with a local family in Iraq who had assured her of her safety.
Nazish said Kittleson acknowledged she had been advised against traveling but chose to proceed, drawing on her prior experience reporting in conflict zones such as Iraq and Syria. Kittleson, an Italian-American journalist, is based in Rome and has also spent time working in Istanbul.
Al-Monitor, the publication for which Kittleson contributes, issued a statement expressing deep concern and calling for her immediate and safe release, while reaffirming support for her work.
The FBI declined to comment, and the White House did not immediately respond to inquiries.
The incident follows a March 29 advisory from the U.S. Embassy in Iraq warning that Iran and allied militias could target American-linked institutions in Baghdad and other cities. U.S. citizens were urged to leave the country due to escalating security threats.
Editor’s Note:
The abduction of Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad underscores escalating risks for journalists in conflict zones, particularly amid threats linked to groups such as Kata’ib Hezbollah.
