American Journalist Shelly Kittleson Released by Iran-Backed Militia in Iraq
Shelly Kittleson, an American freelance journalist, was released by Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, after being kidnapped in Baghdad. The U.S. State Department confirmed her release, which the militia claimed was a gesture of appreciation to the Iraqi prime minister. Kittleson was abducted last week while standing on a street corner in central Baghdad. Security footage captured her being forced into a car by a group of men. The militia, known for its involvement in attacks against U.S. military and diplomatic sites, had previously kidnapped other individuals, including Israeli Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov. Kittleson, who has reported from conflict zones in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, was warned by the State Department about potential targeting. 
