Shelly Kittleson release in Iraq confirmed after Baghdad kidnapping, Iraqi official says

American journalist Shelly Kittleson has been released after being kidnapped in Baghdad on March 31, according to an Iraqi official. Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah said it decided to free her and demanded she leave Iraq immediately. Her whereabouts were not disclosed, and the US State Department has not commented.

American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson, 49, was released on Tuesday after being kidnapped in Baghdad last week, an Iraqi official said. The official spoke to The Associated Press anonymously due to a lack of authorisation. Kittleson was freed in the afternoon, and was held in Baghdad before release. The official did not disclose Kittleson’s current location.

Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah said earlier on Tuesday it had decided to free Kittleson, who was abducted on March 31. The group linked its decision to the "patriotic stances\" of outgoing prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The militia added that the step would not happen again. It also demanded Kittleson leave Iraq immediately.

Kataib Hezbollah and Shelly Kittleson release terms

The US State Department did not immediately answer a request for comment. Kataib Hezbollah had not earlier admitted involvement in Kittleson’s abduction. However, US and Iraqi officials had blamed the group. Two militia officials told the AP that releasing Kittleson was tied to freeing several Kataib Hezbollah members held by Iraqi authorities.

Earlier Tuesday, three Iraqi officials said talks to secure Kittleson’s release had faced problems. Two Iraqi security officials and one official from the pro-Iran Coordination Framework spoke anonymously. One security official said a Popular Mobilisation Forces official was assigned to contact abductors. The effort reportedly struggled to reach Kataib Hezbollah’s senior leadership.

The security official described the main issue as locating the militia’s leaders. \"The primary challenge is that the leaders of the Kataib militia - specifically, the commanders of the battalions - are nowhere to be found. No one knows their whereabouts, and the process of establishing contact with them is extremely complex, they said.\" The official added leaders had gone underground due to fears of being targeted.

The Coordination Framework official said a message was sent to Kataib Hezbollah leaders to learn their demands. Iraqi authorities were ready to release six detained Kataib Hezbollah members, the official said. Most were held over attacks on a US base in Syria. The AP report said these terms were part of attempts to end the standoff.

Baghdad kidnapping case details involving Shelly Kittleson

Iraqi officials said two vehicles were used during the kidnapping. One car crashed during a chase near al-Haswa in Babil province, southwest of Baghdad. Officials said Kittleson was then moved into a second vehicle. That car left the area. The details were shared as part of the investigation into the abduction.

Kittleson had lived outside the United States for years before the kidnapping. Rome served as a base for a period, and Kittleson reported widely in the Middle East. Work was focused on Iraq and Syria. The report said Kittleson often operated with limited resources, like many freelancers. Kittleson had re-entered Iraq shortly before March 31.

US officials said they warned Kittleson more than once about threats. The officials said Kittleson did not want to leave Iraq despite the warnings. The AP report did not provide further detail on the nature of the threats. The Iraqi official with direct knowledge said only that Kittleson had been held in Baghdad.

Kataib Hezbollah record and earlier foreign kidnapping cases

Kataib Hezbollah has faced past accusations of kidnapping foreigners. Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton graduate student with Israeli and Russian citizenship, vanished in Baghdad in 2023. After being freed and handed to US authorities in September 2025, Tsurkov said Kataib Hezbollah held Tsurkov. The militia did not formally claim responsibility for that case.

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have also carried out repeated attacks on US facilities, the AP report said. These strikes have continued since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran. The report linked the wider security climate to pressure on foreign nationals and institutions operating in Iraq. It did not detail any direct tie to Kittleson’s case.

Kittleson’s release came after days of uncertainty and stalled communication with militia leaders, Iraqi officials said. Kataib Hezbollah publicly announced the decision on Tuesday and set a condition for Kittleson’s departure. Iraqi officials did not disclose Kittleson’s location after release. The US State Department had not issued an immediate public response.

With inputs from PTI