A suspect has been arrested after a dramatic chase in Baghdad, but uncertainty remains over the missing journalist’s whereabouts as US officials warn of militia involvement.
A view of a street in Iraq as security operations intensify following the reported abduction of a foreign journalist. (Photo: Xinhua/IANS)
An American freelance journalist has been abducted in Baghdad, prompting a joint push by Iraqi authorities and the United States to secure her release, with Washington pointing to possible involvement of an Iran-aligned militia.
The case has quickly taken on diplomatic and security significance, with one suspect already detained and both governments signalling urgency, even as questions remain over who is behind the kidnapping and where the journalist is being held.
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Iraq’s Interior Ministry said the woman was taken by unidentified individuals on Tuesday evening. Security teams launched a pursuit soon after, chasing the suspects’ vehicle, which overturned during the escape attempt. One person was arrested at the scene, and a vehicle linked to the abduction was seized.
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“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,” the ministry said in a statement.
In Washington, the US Department of State confirmed it was aware of the kidnapping and is working with the FBI on the case.
“The U.S. Department of State is aware of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist in Baghdad, Iraq,” Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said on X.
He added that the journalist had earlier been warned about threats in the region. “We will continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible.”
Johnson also said Iraqi authorities had detained “an individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah” believed to be involved.
The State Department reiterated its Level 4 advisory for Iraq, urging Americans not to travel there and advising those present to leave immediately.
The journalist has been identified as Shelly Kittleson, a freelance reporter who has contributed to Al-Monitor. The publication said it was “deeply alarmed” and called for her “safe and immediate release”, adding that her reporting from the region remains vital.
Alex Plitsas, a former Pentagon official and senior fellow with the Atlantic Council, said he is acting as her US point of contact. Speaking to The Hill, he described her as “the sweetest person in the world” and urged anyone with information about her condition or location to inform authorities.
In an earlier post on X, Plitsas said Kittleson “may have been taken hostage in Baghdad” by Kataib Hezbollah, adding that her whereabouts and condition are unknown.
The militia, which has links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has previously been accused of holding foreign nationals. According to The Hill, it had detained Israeli-Russian academic Elizabeth Tsurkov for over two years before her eventual release.
Kittleson, who has reported extensively from Iraq and Syria, is regarded by media organisations as an experienced journalist familiar with conflict zones.
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