U.S. Journalist Shelly Kittleson Freed After Kidnapping in Baghdad

U.S. freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was abducted from a street in Baghdad last week, has been released, according to an Iraqi official familiar with the situation.

The official said Kittleson was freed on Tuesday afternoon, though her exact whereabouts following her release were not disclosed. She had been held within Baghdad prior to being released.

Earlier in the day, the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah issued a statement confirming its decision to release the journalist, who was kidnapped on March 31. The group said the move was made “in appreciation of the patriotic stances” of outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, without providing further details.

The statement also indicated that Kittleson would be required to leave Iraq immediately after her release and noted that such an initiative would not be repeated in the future.

Kittleson, 49, is a freelance journalist who has spent years working across the Middle East, including Iraq and Syria, often operating independently without institutional security support. She had entered Iraq shortly before her abduction, despite prior warnings from U.S. officials about potential threats.

Iraqi security sources had previously reported that the kidnapping involved multiple vehicles, with one crashing during a pursuit in Babil province, southwest of Baghdad, before the victim was transferred to another vehicle that fled the scene.

Negotiations to secure her release reportedly faced challenges, with Iraqi officials attempting to establish contact with militia leaders believed to be in hiding. Discussions had included the possibility of exchanging detained members of Kataib Hezbollah, some of whom were held in connection with attacks on U.S. forces in the region.

The case had drawn international attention, particularly as neither Iraqi nor U.S. officials had initially confirmed responsibility, although both had previously pointed to Kataib Hezbollah as a likely actor.