A United States freelance journalist, Shelly Kittleson, has been abducted in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, with authorities linking one of the suspects to an Iran-backed militia group.
Kittleson was reportedly taken on Tuesday evening in the city centre. Truth Live News International learnt from BBC News that local reports indicated she was abducted near a hotel in a central area of the city, raising fresh concerns about the safety of journalists operating in the region.
Iraqi security forces have since launched an operation to track down the kidnappers. Officials confirmed that a pursuit led to one suspect being arrested after a vehicle used by the abductors overturned while attempting to flee.
Authorities in the United States have acknowledged the incident, stating that they had previously warned the journalist about potential threats. A US official disclosed that the detained suspect has ties to Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-aligned militia group.
The US State Department, while confirming the abduction, said it is working closely with Iraqi authorities and relevant security agencies, including the FBI, to secure Kittleson’s safe release.
Sources familiar with the situation revealed that the journalist had received multiple warnings about possible risks prior to the incident, including a recent alert just a day before her disappearance.
Meanwhile, Al-Monitor, a media organisation Kittleson has contributed to, expressed deep concern over her kidnapping and called for her immediate and safe release.
Iraqi authorities have assured that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects involved and to ensure the journalist is rescued unharmed.
Kittleson, who is based in Rome, is known for her extensive reporting on conflict zones, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.
