Amid ongoing tensions in West Asia, an American journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday. The journalist, identified as Shelly Kittleson, a freelancer, was confirmed by Iraq's interior ministry to be a woman and a US citizen.
Kittleson, a seasoned journalist who has freelanced in the region for years, was warned of threats against her by the US state department, even as late as Monday night.
According to Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson, an individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah was taken into custody by Iraqi authorities in connection with the kidnapping.
A chase led to the detention of one kidnapper, but Kittleson was moved to another vehicle that managed to flee the scene. Efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining individuals involved and secure her release.
