Award-winning American journalist Shelly Kittleson abducted in Iraq | What we know

Baghdad: An American journalist, identified as freelance reporter Shelly Kittleson, has been kidnapped in central Baghdad, Iraqi officials and media outlets have confirmed.

According to Iraqi security sources, the abduction occurred on Tuesday on Saadoun Street in central Baghdad. The assailants used at least two cars in the operation. One of the vehicles was pursued by Iraqi forces and crashed near Al‑Haswa in Babil province, southwest of the capital. Ms Kittleson was then transferred to a second vehicle that fled the scene.

Iraqi security forces launched a manhunt for the kidnappers. One suspect has been arrested and a vehicle used during the abduction has been seized, but others are believed to still be at large as efforts continue to locate the journalist and secure her safe release.

Ms Kittleson is a longstanding freelance correspondent who has reported extensively from the Middle East, including Iraq and Syria, for a variety of outlets. Regional news organisations said they were “deeply alarmed” by her abduction and called for her “safe and immediate release,” emphasising the importance of her work from the region.

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A US official has blamed the Iran‑backed militia Kataib Hezbollah for involvement in the kidnapping, and another official said Ms Kittleson had been warned multiple times by the US State Department about threats to her safety, including from Iranian‑aligned groups. An individual believed to have ties to the militia has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities.

The US State Department has said it is tracking the reports closely and reiterated that the safety and security of American citizens abroad is a top priority. Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Baghdad has repeatedly urged U.S. citizens to leave Iraq given the risks posed by militias in the country.

The abduction comes amid heightened tensions in Iraq, where Iran‑backed militias have been active and have previously detained foreigners, including the 2023 kidnapping of Princeton graduate student Elizabeth Tsurkov, who later said she was held by Kataib Hezbollah.