31/03/2026
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31/03/2026
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BAGHDAD (AP), Mar 31: Regional news outlet Al-Monitor has identified the journalist kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday as Shelly Kittleson, a longtime contributor who has reported extensively from Syria and Iraq.
In a statement, Al-Monitor said it is “deeply alarmed” by the incident and called for her safe and immediate release, praising her work and urging her swift return.
Iraqi authorities had earlier confirmed that a foreign journalist was abducted and said security forces have launched an intensive operation to track down the perpetrators. Officials said the operation is based on precise intelligence, adding that one suspect has been arrested after a vehicle used in the kidnapping overturned during an attempted escape. One of the vehicles involved has also been seized, while other suspects remain at large.
The US State Department said it is monitoring the situation, stressing that the safety and security of American citizens remains a top priority.
It remains unclear whether the kidnapping is linked to the ongoing regional tensions involving Iran, as Iran-backed militias in Iraq have carried out repeated attacks on U.S. facilities since the start of the conflict.
Authorities continue their search for the remaining suspects as efforts intensify to secure the journalist’s release.
