Overview
- Iraqi authorities said armed men seized Shelly Kittleson on Saadoun Street near the Baghdad Hotel on Tuesday in central Baghdad.
- Security forces pursued the kidnappers toward Babil province, intercepted a car that overturned near Al-Haswa, arrested one suspect, and seized the vehicle while a second car escaped with the journalist.
- The State Department said it is working with Iraqi authorities and the FBI after previously warning Kittleson about threats to her safety in Iraq.
- A U.S. official said the detained suspect has ties to Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran‑aligned militia, yet no group has claimed responsibility and her whereabouts remain unknown.
- Video circulating online appears to show the abduction outside the hotel but has not been verified, highlighting the heightened risks freelance reporters face in areas where militias operate.