American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped from a Baghdad streetcorner last week, has been released, an Iraqi official with direct knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday (April 7, 2026).
Ms. Kittleson was freed in the afternoon, said the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly. He did not share her current whereabouts but said that prior to her release, she had been held in Baghdad.
U.S. journalist kidnapped in Baghdad, security forces hunt captors, say Iraqi officials
The powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah said in a statement earlier in the day it had decided to free Ms. Kittleson, who was abducted on March 31.
The group said its decision came “in appreciation of the patriotic stances of the outgoing Prime Minister," Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, without giving more details. It added that “this initiative will not be repeated in the future.”.The statement added a condition — that Ms. Kittleson must “leave the country immediately” upon her release.
