Award-winning American journalist Shelly Kittleson has been kidnapped in Iraq, Al-Monitor, a publication that provides coverage of the Middle East, announced on Tuesday.
The State Department said an individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah is believed to be involved. Al-Monitor called for Kittleson, a freelance contributor, to be released immediately.
“We are deeply alarmed by the kidnapping of Al-Monitor contributor Shelly Kittleson in Iraq on Tuesday. We call for her safe and immediate release. We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work,” Al-Monitor said in a statement.
Iraq’s interior ministry confirmed on Tuesday that a foreign journalist was kidnapped in Iraq, although the ministry has not confirmed her identity.
Former Pentagon official Alex Plitsas confirmed the news on X and said her whereabouts and condition were unknown, calling himself her designated U.S. point of contact.
When reached for comment, the State Department directed Fox News Digital to an X post from Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson.
“The State Department previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them and we will continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible,” Johnson wrote.
“An individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah believed to be involved in the kidnapping has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities,” he continued. Iraq remains at a Level 4 Travel Advisory and Americans are advised not to travel to Iraq for any reason and to leave Iraq now. The State Department strongly advise all Americans, including members of the press, to adhere to all travel advisories.”
Recent headlines published by Kittleson include, “On eve of Iran’s Pezeshkian visit, Iraq jostles for Shiite space amid rivalries,” “Iraqis protest proposed ‘anti-women’ amendment to personal status law” and “Honor killings in Iraq rekindle efforts to criminalize domestic violence.”
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Al-Monitor reported that security forces are working to track down the unidentified perpetrators. Iraq’s Interior Ministry told the outlet that “authorities had intercepted a vehicle believed to belong to the abductors that flipped over as they tried to flee” but Kittleson was not in the vehicle.
Kittleson is an American citizen based in Rome and has reported from war zones for years, spending time in Afghanistan and Syria before Iraq.
“Trump administration sources confirmed to Al-Monitor that they were aware of the threat against her and had advised against travel to Iraq,” the outlet reported.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
