American journalist Shelly Kittleson was abducted by unidentified individuals in Baghdad on Tuesday evening, according to local media. She was reportedly taken “near the Baghdad hotel on al-Saadoun Street” by unidentified men. While one suspect has been detained, her current location remains unknown.
Iraq’s interior ministry confirmed that a “foreign journalist was kidnapped by unknown individuals” and said security forces have launched operations to track down those responsible.
“The pursuit resulted in the interception of a vehicle belonging to the kidnappers, which overturned as they attempted to flee,” the ministry added, confirming that a suspect was arrested.
A video believed to show the moment Shelly Kittleson was abducted, has surfaced on social media. Footage shared by Al Arabiya appears to capture the incident unfolding in real time. The video shows a woman standing on the roadside near the Baghdad hotel on al-Saadoun Street when a car pulls up. Several men are seen approaching her, forcing her into the vehicle before quickly driving away from the scene.
WHO IS SHELLY KITTLESON?
Shelly Kittleson is an independent journalist who has spent years reporting from some of the world’s most volatile regions, including Iraq, Afghanistan and across the Middle East. She had travelled to Iraq to cover the impact of the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, focusing on how the conflict is unfolding on the ground and affecting the region.
Over the years, her work has appeared in several prominent international publications such as Al Monitor, Foreign Policy, BBC, Politico and New Lines Magazine. She has built a reputation for on-ground reporting, including coverage from frontline areas during the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS). Her reporting has also examined the role of pro-Iran militias in Iraq.
This isn’t an isolated incident of the kidnapping of journalists in Iraq. In March 2023, Russian-Israeli researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov was kidnapped from a cafe in Baghdad. Elizabeth Tsurkov was held for more than two years by the pro-Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah before being released after 903 days.
