Kataib Hezbollah (KH), the Iraqi Shiite paramilitary group allied with Tehran that is suspected of kidnapping American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad on Tuesday, has contacted the Iraqi government offering to negotiate for her release, the New York Times has reported, citing Iraqi security officials.
The group has demanded the release of several detained militia members in exchange for Kittleson's freedom, according to the report.
Amnesty International has expressed concern about Kittleson, who has long divided her life between Rome and the Middle East, where she is an expert, and works for American and Italian media outlets, including Il Foglio and ANSA.
"We are extremely concerned about the safety and whereabouts of US journalist Shelly Kittleson who was kidnapped in Baghdad, Iraq," the US branch of the human-rights NGO said via X.
"We urge Iraqi and U.S.
