American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was abducted from a street corner in Baghdad last week, has been released in a surprising turn of events. An Iraqi official, privy to the situation, confirmed that Kittleson regained her freedom on Tuesday afternoon.
The release followed a statement by Iraqi militia group Kataib Hezbollah on Telegram, announcing they would free the journalist as a gesture of appreciation towards outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. They insisted that Kittleson must depart Iraq immediately and emphasized that such an action would not be repeated.
Kittleson, a US freelance journalist known for her work in the Middle East and Afghanistan, has contributed to various renowned publications like Foreign Policy, BBC World Service, Politico, and others. Her exact location post-release remains undisclosed.
The Iraqi interior ministry had announced the kidnapping of a foreign female journalist in Baghdad on March 31, with security forces actively pursuing the perpetrators. Al-Monitor confirmed that Kittleson was the journalist in question, reportedly taken near the Palestine Hotel in central Baghdad.
Video footage from Al Arabiya depicted two men forcing a woman into a car before speeding away. While Kataib Hezbollah had not initially claimed responsibility for the abduction, both US and Iraqi officials had implicated the group.
Sources within the militia revealed that Kittleson’s release was part of a negotiated agreement, where certain detained members of the group would be set free. Despite US officials warning Kittleson about threats, she chose to remain in the region.
Following her abduction, security forces initiated an operation that led to the arrest of one suspect and the recovery of a vehicle used in the crime. The Iraqi interior ministry assured ongoing efforts to capture the remaining culprits and secure the journalist’s release, promising legal action against all involved in the incident.
