Italian-American journalist kidnapped in Baghdad

Italian-American journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday by a suspected Iran-backed armed group.

Dylan Johnson, US assistant secretary of state for Public Diplomacy, said on X that an individual linked to the Kataeb Hezbollah group had been arrested by Iraqi authorities over the incident. 

The State Department said it had warned the journalist of the risks to her safety and was working to secure her release "as soon as possible".

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Kittleson - who primarily works for Al-Monitor - had been contacted several times about threats against her, including on Tuesday evening.

CCTV footage released by a number of Iraqi news outlets appeared to show the moment that Kittleson was captured on Saadoun Street in central Baghdad.

Iraqi authorities said they had launched an operation to find the kidnappers after receiving reports of the abduction.

The Iraqi interior ministry said that they had intercepted a vehicle "belonging to the kidnappers, which overturned as they attempted to flee".

"Security forces were able to arrest one of the suspects and seize one of the vehicles used in the crime," the ministry added in a statement.

WATCH: The moments US journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped. pic.twitter.com/q7zcHR4stf

— Jet Journalist (@JournalistJet) March 31, 2026

"Efforts are continuing to find the other individuals involved and ensure the release of the kidnapped journalist."

Iraq has long had a reputation for kidnapping, with both domestic and foreign journalists often finding themselves the target of armed groups.

Since the beginning of Israel's genocide in Gaza in October 2023, there has been increased pressure on foreign nationals from countries backing Israel in the conflict.

The launch of the US-Israeli war on Iran in February has further exacerbated the situation and the US has told all its citizens to leave Iraq immediately.

"We are deeply alarmed by the kidnapping of Al-Monitor contributor Shelly Kittleson in Iraq on Tuesday. We call for her safe and immediate release," said Al-Monitor in a statement.

"We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work."

The kidnapping of Kittleson comes months after the release of Israeli-American researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was also suspected to have been abducted by Kataeb Hezbollah in Baghdad in March 2023.

Tsurkov, a fellow at New Lines Institute and a doctoral student at Princeton University's Department of Politics who has previously written for Middle East Eye, was released in September 2025 after more than two years in captivity.

A number of pro-Iran commentators and politicians had accused Tsurkov of being an Israeli spy, which her family has denied.