American journalist kidnapped in Iraq, suspected to be carried out by local pro-Iranian militia group

MaticHoleFiller · 2026-04-04T03:58:25+00:00

American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Baghdad, with the kidnappers suspected to be Iran-backed militias. Iraqi security forces have launched a manhunt and arrested a suspect. A call for the immediate safe release of Kittleson.

MaticHoleFiller

2026-04-04 03:58:25

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According to the U.S. Department of State, Iraqi authorities, and the Washington-based news website Al-Monitor, a U.S. freelance journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad, and the kidnappers are likely a militia group supported by Iran.

Al-Monitor published a report linking statements from the U.S. Department of State and Iraqi authorities to the U.S. reporter Shelly Kittleson, who has worked in Afghanistan and the Middle East. The website also issued a separate statement calling for her to be “released immediately and safely.”

The International Women’s Media Foundation also confirmed that the kidnapped person was Kittleson.

On Tuesday, Iraq’s Ministry of the Interior said security forces pursued a car used to kidnap the reporter. The reporter’s identity was only confirmed as female and a foreign national. The ministry said the vehicle overturned during the pursuit, but the reporter was not in the car, and it added that it had “arrested a suspect.”

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