American Journalist Kidnapped In Baghdad Search Underway/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ An American freelance journalist was kidnapped in central Baghdad, Iraqi officials confirmed. Security forces launched a pursuit, arresting one suspect while others escaped. U.S. officials suspect an Iran-backed militia may be involved in the abduction.
US Journalist Kidnapped Baghdad — Quick Looks
- American journalist abducted in central Baghdad
- Freelancer identified as Shelly Kittleson
- Iraqi forces launch search operation
- One suspect arrested after vehicle crash
- Second vehicle escaped with journalist
- U.S. official blames Iran-backed militia
- Kidnapping occurred on Saadoun Street
- U.S. Embassy tracking situation
- Journalist warned of threats before abduction
- Militias previously kidnapped foreign nationals
Deep Look: American Journalist Kidnapped In Baghdad Search Underway
An American journalist was kidnapped Tuesday in central Baghdad, prompting Iraqi security forces to launch a search operation to locate her captors and secure her release, officials said.
The journalist was identified as Shelly Kittleson, a freelance reporter who has worked extensively across Iraq and Syria. One of the outlets she contributed to confirmed her identity and expressed concern over her disappearance.
Iraqi officials said the abduction occurred in Baghdad’s central Saadoun Street area. Two vehicles were reportedly involved in the kidnapping. According to security officials, the kidnappers fled the scene in one vehicle but later transferred the journalist into a second car after the first vehicle crashed during a pursuit.
The chase unfolded near the town of Al-Haswa in Babil province, southwest of Baghdad. Iraqi security forces intercepted one of the vehicles used in the abduction after it overturned while attempting to escape. Authorities arrested one suspect and seized the crashed vehicle, but other suspects managed to flee with the kidnapped journalist.
The Iraqi Interior Ministry confirmed that a foreign journalist had been abducted and said a large-scale search operation is underway. Security alerts were also issued to checkpoints across the region as authorities attempted to track the kidnappers’ movements.
Two Iraqi security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, confirmed that the abducted journalist is a U.S. citizen and a woman.
A U.S. official said Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah is believed to be responsible for the kidnapping. However, Iraqi authorities have not publicly confirmed any group’s involvement.
The regional news outlet Al-Monitor, which has published Kittleson’s reporting, issued a statement expressing alarm over her disappearance.
“We call for her safe and immediate release,” the outlet said. “We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work.”
Kittleson is a longtime freelance journalist known for reporting from conflict zones across the Middle East, including Iraq and Syria. Her reporting has focused on political developments, armed groups, and regional tensions.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad declined to provide details about the case. However, the U.S. State Department confirmed it is monitoring the situation closely.
“The Trump administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans,” the State Department said in a statement.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said on social media that the journalist had previously been warned about potential threats.
“The State Department previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them,” Johnson said, adding that a suspect believed to be linked to Kataib Hezbollah had been detained by Iraqi authorities.
Another U.S. official, speaking anonymously due to privacy concerns, said the journalist had been warned multiple times — including as recently as Monday night — that she faced serious danger and should leave Iraq immediately.
The kidnapping comes amid heightened tensions in Iraq following the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran that began on February 28. Iran-backed militias in Iraq have since launched repeated attacks on U.S. facilities and personnel in the country.
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has issued warnings about potential kidnappings and urged American citizens to leave Iraq during the ongoing conflict.
Foreigners have previously been targeted by armed groups in Iraq. In 2023, Princeton graduate student Elizabeth Tsurkov, who holds Israeli and Russian citizenship, disappeared in Baghdad. She was later freed and handed over to U.S. authorities in September 2025. Tsurkov later said she had been held by Kataib Hezbollah, though the group never officially claimed responsibility.
The latest kidnapping underscores growing risks for journalists and foreign nationals operating in Iraq amid regional instability. Authorities continue searching for the missing journalist while diplomatic and security efforts intensify to secure her safe release.
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