Italian-American journalist kidnapped in Baghdad

Italian-American journalist kidnapped in Baghdad Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Wed, 04/01/2026 - 09:45 Shelly Kittleson, a contributor for Al-Monitor, was reportedly captured on Saadoun Street in central Baghdad US journalist Shelly Kittleson poses for a picture in Baghdad on 31 March 2026 (AFP) Off 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".