Foreign journalist kidnapped in Iraq: Interior Ministry

Iraq’s Ministry of Interior says one suspect arrested after ‘unknown individuals’ kidnap journalist.A foreign journalist has been kidnapped in Iraq, the Ministry of Interior confirms, without providing any information about the reporter’s identity.The ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that the journalist was kidnapped by “unknown individuals” in Baghdad, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3The Take: Why Iraq is the most fragile front in the US-Israel war on Iranlist 2 of 3Iraq to summon US envoy after air strikes kill seven fighters in Anbarlist 3 of 3Iraq to summon US, Iran envoys over deadly attacks: PM’s officeend of listSecurity forces arrested one of the suspects and seized a vehicle used in the abduction after a pursuit of the kidnappers, the ministry said.It added that efforts are continuing to find those involved in the kidnapping and secure the release of the journalist.Iraq has experienced a rise in violence in recent weeks amid the US-Israel war on Iran, with Iraqi security forces targeted in attacks in Anbar Province and other areas.The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was “deeply concerned” following media reports that US freelance journalist Shelley Kittleson was abducted.“CPJ calls on Iraqi authorities to do everything in their power to locate Shelley Kittleson, ensure her immediate and safe release, and hold those responsible to account,” said the group’s Middle East regional director, Sara Qudah.State Department official Dylan Johnson said in a statement on X that the US was “aware of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist” in Baghdad.“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 release as quickly as possible,” Johnson said.He added that an individual with ties to Iraqi paramilitary group Kataib Hezbollah who was “believed to be involved in the kidnapping” was taken into custody by the Iraqi authorities.