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, said Al-Monitor, a news outlet for which she has contributed articles.
The Iraqi interior ministry reported that security forces had chased the reporter's abductors, resulting in one suspect's car overturning and the arrest of one individual.
A US state department official indicated that an individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group, Kataib Hezbollah, was detained by Iraqi authorities.
Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, confirmed the abduction of an American journalist without naming Kittleson. He stated, 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.
It was revealed that US officials had contacted Kittleson multiple times about threats against her, including as late as Monday night.
The State Department stated, Due to privacy and other considerations, we have nothing further to share at this time. Al-Monitor reported that local news indicates Kittleson was taken near a hotel in the heart of the capital and that the State Department is aware of the kidnapping and working with the Iraqi government for her release.
Al-Monitor expressed its alarm regarding her kidnapping, calling for her safe and immediate release. An Iraqi official confirmed that local authorities were working at a high level to secure Kittleson's freedom. Her emergency contact, Alex Plitsas of CNN, noted that she had been warned by the US government about a specific threat from Iran-backed paramilitaries, indicating that Kittleson's name was on a list belonging to Kataib Hezbollah.
The interior ministry stated that security forces immediately launched an operation based on precise intelligence, tracking the kidnappers' movements, resulting in the interception of their vehicle.
The ministry did not identify the abductors, labeling them as unknown individuals and reaffirming that efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining perpetrators and secure Kittleson's release.
Kittleson, who covers conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, is based in Rome, Italy. Reports indicate that the FBI, National Security Council, and others are in contact regarding her abduction, as Baghdad's security situation has improved in recent years after a notorious history of kidnappings.
