US Journalist Shelly Kittleson Kidnapped in Baghdad

Shelly Kittleson, an award-winning American freelance journalist, was reportedly kidnapped by unidentified assailants in Baghdad on Tuesday. According to a report by Al-Monitor, sources within the Trump administration had prior knowledge of potential threats against her and had advised her against traveling to Iraq.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry confirmed that a foreign journalist had been abducted but did not disclose the individual’s identity. In an official statement shared on social media, the ministry said security forces were immediately deployed to track down the kidnappers using intelligence inputs and extensive field operations.

Authorities revealed that during the pursuit, one of the vehicles used by the kidnappers overturned. Security personnel managed to arrest one suspect and seize the vehicle involved. However, investigations are still ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to unnamed Iraqi security officials cited by Associated Press, the kidnapped journalist is a woman holding US citizenship. The officials stated that two vehicles were involved in the abduction—while one was intercepted, the second managed to escape with the journalist, reportedly heading south of Baghdad.

A video aired by Al Arabiya, though not independently verified, appears to show the initial moments of the kidnapping. Armed men can be seen intercepting a car on a busy street, forcibly removing the journalist, and fleeing the scene.

It remains unclear whether the kidnapping is directly linked to the ongoing regional conflict. However, Iran-backed militias in Iraq have intensified attacks on US-linked targets since the escalation of the US-Israeli war on Iran. The US Embassy has repeatedly warned of heightened kidnapping risks and urged American citizens to leave Iraq.

Kidnappings of foreign nationals in Iraq are not unprecedented. In 2023, Elizabeth Tsurkov, a student with Israeli and Russian citizenship, was abducted in Baghdad. She was released in September 2025 and later revealed that she had been held by Kataib Hezbollah, although the group never officially claimed responsibility.

The current case underscores the fragile security situation in Iraq, particularly for foreign nationals and journalists operating in conflict-prone regions.