American Journalist Shelly Kittleson Kidnapped in Baghdad: Here's what we know so far

Shelly Kittleson, an American freelance journalist has been abducted in Baghdad by an Iranian-backed militia group, according to Iraqi and U.S. officials.

Kittleson, a freelance journalist was working in Iqar for an independent Middle East news organization, Al-Monitor.

Iraqi police officials confirmed they are on the lookout for a missing American journalist who was kidnapped in Baghdad, capital of Iraq.

Shelly Kittleson was abducted on Tuesday evening, March 31, 2026, in Baghdad, according to Al-Monitor, to which she was contributing.

In the latest updates, as per Iraqi Interior Ministry officials, security forces had arrested one of the suspected kidnappers after a car chase.

A U.S. state department official told ABC that the suspect who was arrested by Iraqi authorities has links with an Iranian-aligned militia group, Kataib Hezbollah.

Al-Monitor in its report, calls for the safe return of Kittleson, citing local media reports fearing she was abducted near a hotel in the center of the city.

While U.S. State department assistant secretary Dylan Hohnson for global public affairs took to X (formerly Twitter) confirming the abduction of an American journalist, without sharing the identity

He wrote, “The State Department previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them and we will continue with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible.”

On the other hand, Middle East media outlets have aired footage, Kittleson reportedly was seen being kidnapped on a street outside the hotel in central Baghdad.