U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who had been kidnapped in Iraq by an Iran-aligned militia group, marking a significant development in a case that drew international concern over journalist safety in the region.
Kittleson was abducted in Baghdad in late March by Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed militia operating in Iraq. Officials said she was held for about a week before being released following coordinated efforts involving U.S. agencies and Iraqi authorities.
Rubio said the U.S. government was “relieved that this American is now free” and thanked Iraqi partners, as well as agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for their role in securing her release and arranging her departure from the country.
Militia representatives indicated that Kittleson’s release came with the condition that she leave Iraq immediately. Iraqi officials also suggested the outcome may have involved the release of detained militia members as part of negotiations, though full details of the arrangement were not publicly confirmed.
Kittleson, a freelance journalist known for reporting on Middle East conflicts, had previously covered developments in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. Press freedom organizations welcomed news of her release while highlighting the ongoing risks journalists face in conflict zones.
The kidnapping occurred amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran-aligned groups and U.S. interests in Iraq. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has repeatedly warned American citizens to leave the country due to the risk of militia activity targeting foreigners.
Officials say Kittleson is now receiving assistance as arrangements are made for her safe departure from Iraq, bringing an end to a high-profile case that underscored the dangers facing reporters working in volatile environments.
