American Journalist Abducted in Baghdad

An American journalist was abducted in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, and an individual connected to an Iranian-backed terrorist group has been detained.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry said in a March 31 statement that a foreign journalist was kidnapped by “unknown individuals,” but did not disclose the journalist’s nationality or the location of the incident. She was identified as freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson by Al-Monitor, one of the media outlets she works for.

Kittleson contributes articles to Al-Monitor, which covers the Middle East extensively. The news outlet said it is “deeply alarmed” by Kittleson’s kidnapping on March 31 and called for her safe and immediate release.

“We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work,” the news outlet said in a statement.

The Iraqi ministry said that security forces tracked the kidnappers and pursued their vehicle, which overturned as they attempted to flee. Authorities arrested one of the suspects and seized a vehicle, according to a statement written in Arabic.

No details were provided about the detained suspect. The ministry said that “efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining perpetrators and secure the release of the abducted woman,” while vowing “to take due legal action against all those involved in this criminal act, in accordance with the law.”

Dylan Johnson, U.S. assistant secretary of state for global public affairs at the U.S. State Department, said in a post on X that the department is aware of reports that a U.S. journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad but did not mention Kittleson by name.

“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,” he wrote. “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.”

Johnson called on U.S. citizens, including members of the media, to adhere to travel advisories. The U.S State Department has placed Iraq under a Level 4 travel advisory, warning U.S. citizens against traveling to the country for any reason.

The State Department on March 2 ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees to leave Iraq due to security concerns, citing terrorism, armed conflict, and kidnapping in the country. It also stated that the U.S. government’s ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Iraq is limited.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a dual citizen of Israel and Russia, was kidnapped in March 2023 while carrying out research in Baghdad. She was a Princeton University graduate student.

President Donald Trump said in September 2025 that Tsurkov had been released “after being tortured for many months” by Kataib Hezbollah. The Iran-backed group was listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government in 2009.