American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday, 31st March evening, and the Iraqi government has launched a security operation to rescue her. Officials said the abduction of the journalist was carried out by unknown persons.
Footage shows the abduction of U.S. journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad. pic.twitter.com/MAtnZmWz80
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 31, 2026
A video of the incident is also going viral on social media. In the video, the woman is seen standing on the roadside near a hotel on Al Saadoun Street when a car suddenly stops. Several men step out, grab her, and force her into the vehicle before speeding away.
Iraq’s interior ministry said the rescue operation began after receiving precise intelligence. According to reports, a vehicle belonging to the kidnappers overturned during the chase as they tried to escape. One suspect, believed to have connections with the Iran-backed militia group Kataib Hizballah, has been taken into custody.
The U.S. Department of State is aware of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist in Baghdad, Iraq.
— Dylan Johnson (@ASDylanJohnson) March 31, 2026
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…
While officials did not initially confirm the journalist’s identity, local media later identified her as Kittleson, who is an award-winning reporter holding a US passport. The government has yet to announce the exact location of the kidnapping incident, but has confirmed the incident occurred in central Baghdad.
The US Department of State stated that it is aware of the situation and is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to ensure her release. It also revealed that the journalist had earlier been warned about possible threats.
The US government reiterated that Iraq remains under a Level 4 travel advisory and urged all Americans, including journalists, not to travel to Iraq and to leave immediately if they are already there.
