Iraqi security forces are conducting an intensive search operation after freelance American journalist Shelly Kittleson was taken by unknown individuals in central Baghdad on Tuesday, according to Iraqi officials.
Kittleson, who writes for Al-Monitor and has covered conflicts across Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, was seized near the Baghdad Hotel on Al-Sa’doun Street, local reports indicate. Iraqi security personnel responded rapidly using what officials characterized as reliable intelligence information to begin tracking her captors.
During the search efforts, authorities located a vehicle they believed was connected to the abduction. The car flipped over when those inside tried to escape, leading to the arrest of at least one suspect. However, Kittleson was not in the vehicle and her current location is still undetermined.
Different versions of how the abduction occurred have emerged. Some sources report armed men took her in daylight hours, while other accounts describe individuals wearing masks and civilian clothing conducting the operation, leading to questions about potential connections to local armed groups. So far, no organization has taken credit for the incident.
A US government representative confirmed American officials are informed about the situation and are working alongside Iraqi authorities in ongoing efforts to bring about her safe return. The incident brings to mind the 2023 abduction of researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov in Baghdad, which underscored the dangers that armed factions present in Iraq’s capital city.
Kittleson, who holds American citizenship and lives in Rome, had allegedly received warnings about traveling to Iraq before making this trip.
