American journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Iraq by suspected Iranian-backed militants on Tuesday (March 31), the State Department of the country’s Interior Ministry announced via NBC News.
Kittleson, who contributes to various publications, was identified hours after reports of an American journalist being kidnapped in the Middle East. Al-Monitor, one of the outlets Kittleson contributes to, called for her “safe and immediate release.”
Dylan Johnson, the assistant secretary of state for global affairs shared a post on X confirming that the State Department was aware of Kittleson’s kidnapping Tuesday.
“The U.S. Department of State is aware of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist in Baghdad, Iraq,” Johnson wrote. “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. An individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah believed to be involved in the kidnapping has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities. Iraq remains at a Level 4 Travel Advisory and Americans are advised not to travel to Iraq for any reason and to leave Iraq now. The State Department strongly advise all Americans, including members of the press, to adhere to all travel advisories.”
Iraq’s Interior Ministry confirmed that security forces pursued the kidnappers’ vehicle, which overturned as it fled the scene and surveillance video showed what appears to be the exact moment Kittleson is bundled into a vehicle.
“Security forces were able to arrest one of the suspects and seize one of the vehicles used in the crime,” the ministry said in a statement. “The Ministry affirms that efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining individuals involved, secure the release of the kidnapped journalist, and take all necessary legal measures against all those involved in this criminal act, in accordance with the law.”
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