American journalist kidnapped in Baghdad: What we know
American journalist kidnapped in Baghdad: What we know
Amaris Encinas and Kate Perez, USA TODAYSat, April 4, 2026 at 1:03 AM UTC
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Iraqi authorities are continuing the search for American journalist Shelly Kittleson who was kidnapped March 31 on a busy street in central Baghdad, Reuters reported.
The Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah was responsible for Kittleson's kidnapping, according to The New York Times, which reported that the group offered on April 1 to negotiate with the Iraqi government for her release in exchange for several militia members being held by authorities.
“We will continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible,” Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, said in a March 31 post on X. Johnson did not refer to Kittleson by name.
USA TODAY has reached out to the State Department for an update.
Here’s what we know so far.
American journalist Shelly Kittleson poses for a picture in Baghdad on March 31, 2026.When was Shelly Kittleson kidnapped and where?
According to Iraqi's Ministry of Interior, Kittleson was "kidnapped by unknown persons" in central Bagdad on the evening of March 31.
“The Ministry affirms that efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining perpetrators and secure the release of the abducted woman, and to take due legal action against all those involved in this criminal act, in accordance with the law,” the agency said in a statement.
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Independent news publication Al-Monitor, where Kittleson was a contributor, 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 publication said.
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Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026.
Who is Shelly Kittleson?
Kittleson is an independent journalist living in the Middle East, as previously reported by USA TODAY. Her work has appeared in multiple publications over the past decade, including Al Majalla, Al-Monitor, ANSA and RAI Radiotre, among other freelance work, according to her public LinkedIn account.
She's originally from Mount Horeb, a small village in south-central Wisconsin, her mother, Barb Kittleson, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY network, on April 1.
"She just wanted to help people. She’s just a journalist," her mother said.
Contributing: David Clarey and Steven Martinez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What we know about the American journalist kidnapped in Iraq
Source: “AOL Breaking”
