Kataib Hezbollah Releases US Journalist Shelley Kittleson After Iraq Kidnapping
Shelley Kittleson freed in Iraq after militia abduction, with reports of detainee exchange deal.
American journalist Shelley Kittleson has been released after being kidnapped in the Iraqi capital, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed early Wednesday. Kittleson had been abducted on March 31 from a street in Baghdad, with U.S. officials attributing the incident to the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah.
In a statement posted on social media, Rubio said U.S. authorities were “relieved that this American is now freed” and were working to ensure her safe departure from Iraq. He also expressed gratitude to Iraqi authorities, along with the FBI and the U.S. Department of Defense, for their efforts in securing her release. The U.S. State Department has not yet confirmed whether Kittleson has left the country or is in American custody, which is typically required before formal confirmation of such cases.
Earlier in the day, Kataib Hezbollah announced that it had decided to release Kittleson on the condition that she leave Iraq immediately. While the group did not publicly outline further details, two officials within the militia indicated that the release may have been part of an exchange arrangement involving detained members of the group held by Iraqi authorities. Iraqi officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Kittleson had been freed in Baghdad but did not disclose her exact whereabouts following her release.
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Kittleson’s abduction highlighted the ongoing security challenges faced by journalists operating in Iraq. According to Iraqi officials, she was kidnapped by armed individuals using two vehicles, one of which crashed during a pursuit near al-Haswa in Babil province. She was subsequently transferred to another vehicle that escaped. Efforts to negotiate her release were reportedly complicated by difficulties in contacting senior leaders of Kataib Hezbollah, who were said to be in hiding due to fears of being targeted.
A seasoned freelance journalist, Kittleson, 49, has spent years reporting across the Middle East, including in Iraq and Syria. She had previously been based in Rome and was known for working independently, often without the institutional support provided to staff reporters. U.S. officials stated that she had been warned about potential threats prior to her return to Iraq but chose to continue her reporting work in the region.
The incident also underscores a broader pattern of kidnappings involving Iran-aligned militias in Iraq. Kataib Hezbollah has previously been accused of detaining foreign nationals, including Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was abducted in Baghdad in 2023 and later released in 2025. The group has not consistently acknowledged responsibility for such incidents, adding to the complexity of negotiations and security efforts in the region.
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