American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was taken captive in Baghdad last week, has been released, as confirmed by an Iraqi official speaking anonymously to The Associated Press on Tuesday. The official stated that she regained her freedom in the afternoon, but did not disclose her current whereabouts.
Kittleson had been held in Baghdad since her abduction on March 31. Her release followed a statement from the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah announcing their decision to release her.
The militia, in their announcement, mentioned that the release was a gesture of appreciation towards the outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. They specified that Kittleson must depart Iraq immediately after being freed, emphasizing that such actions would not be repeated.
Although the militia had not initially taken responsibility for the abduction, both US and Iraqi authorities had implicated their involvement.
Sources within the militia suggested that Kittleson’s release might be linked to a potential exchange involving the release of several Kataib Hezbollah members detained by Iraqi authorities. Reportedly, six detained members, some allegedly involved in attacks on US bases in Syria, were being considered for release.
Negotiations for Kittleson’s release faced challenges earlier in the day, with Iraqi security officials encountering difficulties in establishing communication with the militia’s leadership, who were reportedly evading contact due to fears of being targeted.
A member of the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework political bloc confirmed attempts to engage with the militia to ascertain their demands.
Kittleson, aged 49, was abducted from a street corner in Baghdad. Iraqi officials reported that the operation involved two vehicles, with one crashing during a pursuit near al-Haswa in Babil province. She was then transferred to another vehicle that managed to escape.
As a seasoned reporter covering the Middle East, Kittleson had worked extensively in Iraq and Syria independently. Despite warnings from US officials about potential threats, she had recently returned to Iraq to continue her journalistic endeavors.
Kataib Hezbollah has a history of targeting foreign nationals, with previous accusations of similar actions. The group had been linked to the abduction of Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian researcher, in Baghdad in 2023, who was released in 2025 after being held by the militia.
Amid escalating tensions in the broader West Asia conflict, Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq have intensified attacks on US-affiliated targets in the region.
– Ends