Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:27:03 +0000
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by Elena Vance -

American Freelance Journalist Shelly Kittleson Freed in Baghdad After Weeklong Captivity; Militia Links Reported

Baghdad — American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Baghdad on March 31, 2026. Shelly Kittleson was released on April 7, 2026.

Kataib Hezbollah said it would release Kittleson; media reports linked the release to an exchange or proposed release of detained militia members.

and Iraqi officials were aware of and responding to the kidnapping; the U.S. State Department said it was aware of the reported kidnapping. Kittleson is a U.S. citizen and a freelance reporter who has worked across the Middle East, including for Al-Monitor and ANSA; she has lived abroad and used Rome as a base at times. (AP, CPJ, NYT reporting.).

was "aware of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist in Baghdad.” U.S. State Department (statement paraphrased) said.