Kidnapping of Shelly Kittleson

On March 31, 2026, Shelly Renee Kittleson, an American freelance journalist covering conflict and security issues in the Middle East, was abducted in Baghdad, Iraq, while on assignment near the Baghdad Hotel. U.S. and Iraqi officials said she had received warnings of potential threats prior to her abduction. The kidnapping was widely attributed to Kata'ib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia group, which reportedly demanded the release of detained members in exchange for her freedom. Iraqi autho