An American journalist abducted in Baghdad by Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi militia allied with Iran, was released Tuesday after a week in captivity, the group and two Iraqi security officials said.
Kataib Hezbollah said it freed Shelly Kittleson “in appreciation of the patriotic positions” of Iraq’s prime minister, who it said negotiated her release, and demanded that she leave Iraq immediately. A militia security commander identified as Abu Mujahid Al‑Asaf warned the action “will not be repeated in the future,” saying the group views itself as fighting a “Zionist‑American enemy.”
Kataib Hezbollah is one of Iraq’s most powerful militias and is closely linked to Iran’s Quds Force, the overseas arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The abduction of the 49‑year‑old Kittleson is the group’s second known kidnapping of a foreign national in recent years; in 2023 it seized Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was held for more than two years.
Authorities did not disclose where Kittleson was held, whether she was injured, or the precise terms of her release. Next steps typically include medical evaluation and debriefing; officials and her employer may also issue statements as more information becomes available.