American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson was taken hostage by armed men in Baghdad on Tuesday, as reported by the Iraqi Interior Ministry.
The kidnapping occurred near the Baghdad Hotel on Saadoun Street during daylight hours. Eyewitness footage shows armed men in civilian clothing forcibly removing Kittleson from her vehicle.
She was then taken away in another car amid a crowd of onlookers. No group has yet claimed responsibility for this brazen act.
The Iraqi Interior Ministry confirmed the abduction and noted that specialized units were mobilized immediately, utilizing intelligence for tracking. Security forces engaged the kidnappers, enclosing a vehicle linked to the crime, and apprehended one suspect when the vehicle flipped during their escape.
Efforts are ongoing to identify and capture the rest of the suspects while ensuring Kittleson’s safe return. Iraqi media outlet Shafaq News reported that authorities have been acting on specific intelligence.
Kittleson, a U.S.-born photojournalist, has focused on the Middle East and Afghanistan since her career began around 2010. She has produced significant radio documentaries and contributed to various media outlets, including Al-Monitor, where she covers complex issues such as Iraqi politics, U.S.-Iraq relations, and sectarian violence.
Her reporting includes numerous embeds with combat forces, notably with the Peshmerga in Iraq and in opposition-held regions of Syria.
A great journalist who cares deeply about the #MiddleEast & its people has just been kidnapped in #Baghdad, #Iraq.
Shelly Kittleson (@shellykittleson) was taken by #Iran’s proxies within #Iraq’s state security apparatus.#Iraq’s government must immediately secure her release. pic.twitter.com/4N2PkJgzdT
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) March 31, 2026
Al-Monitor expressed their deep concern regarding Kittleson’s situation, urging her immediate and safe release. Their statement emphasized the importance of her reporting and called for her swift return to journalism.
