Independent journalist Shelly Kittleson was abducted in Baghdad, officials say, and authorities are investigating the circumstances as U.S. and Iraqi sources point to militia involvement while tracking developments.

Shelly Kittleson, an independent American journalist who has worked in the region for years, was reportedly taken in Baghdad during an incident that local and U.S. officials have confirmed. The episode has drawn swift attention from Iraqi security forces and U.S. officials monitoring the case. Early reports point to a violent, public abduction captured on video, heightening concern for her welfare.

CNN National Security Analyst Alex Plitsas confirmed Kittleson was abducted. His reporting and other sources describe armed men forcing her from a vehicle in footage that circulated after the incident. Iraqi authorities say they launched an immediate pursuit based on intelligence and tracking of the alleged kidnappers.

The U.S. State Department’s public messaging added urgency to the situation, with Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson saying the kidnapping was likely tied to an Iran-aligned militia. Johnson’s post on X included a warning that underscored the security danger Americans face in Iraq and referenced an arrest of an individual allegedly connected to the group believed involved.

“An individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah believed to be involved in the kidnapping has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities. Iraq remains at a Level 4 Travel Advisory and Americans are advised not to travel to Iraq for any reason and to leave Iraq now,” Johnson wrote on X.

Iraqi officials confirmed the abduction and described a coordinated response by security services. The Interior Ministry said relevant forces immediately began duties to pursue the perpetrators, relying on intelligence and intensive field efforts. Officials added that investigations are ongoing to fully uncover the circumstances and that further details would be released as they become available.

Video of the incident reportedly shows armed men removing Kittleson from a vehicle, and that footage helped spark rapid local and international reaction. The visuals circulated on social platforms and among media outlets, prompting Iraqi agencies to intensify their search and prompting U.S. officials to push for information and accountability through diplomatic and security channels.

American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Iraq, according to government and media sources. 

Al-Monitor, a publication Kittleson works for, confirmed her abduction and called for her “safe and immediate” release.

Reports said that the U.S. government is tracking developments.

As of early Wednesday local time, it remains unclear who is responsible for the abduction, though in a social media post, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson said Kittleson was likely kidnapped by Iranian proxy group Katib Hezbollah. Johnson said the State Department warned Kittleson of the risks she faced through her reporting. 

Kittleson has lived and reported in the Middle East for nearly two decades, according to reporting from security analysts on the scene. Sources emphasize her longstanding presence in the region and the local knowledge she developed covering complex political and security dynamics.

Plitsas offered a personal note on her character and standing among local actors, writing on X that she has been vetted by regional security forces and regarded as a civilian. “She is religious and doesn’t have a mean bone in her body,” Plitsas wrote. “She’s been thoroughly vetted in Iraq and the PMF know she’s a civilian.”

The Iraqi Interior Ministry released a formal statement detailing the immediate response to the kidnapping. “The Ministry of Interior announces that, this evening, a foreign journalist was subjected to a kidnapping incident by unknown individuals. Immediately, the relevant security forces began their duties to pursue the perpetrators, based on intelligence information, intensive field efforts, and tracking the kidnappers’ movements,” the ministry said.

“Investigations are still underway to fully uncover the circumstances of the incident, and further details will be provided later,” the ministry added, indicating that more information may emerge as security forces follow leads. Officials on both sides say they are working to determine responsibility and secure Kittleson’s safe release.