Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah releases U.S. journalist Shelly Kittleson
Independent reporter freed after seven days in captivity in Baghdad; group demanded release of detained members in exchange.
5:45 PM
The Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah released U.S. journalist Shelly Kittleson on Tuesday after holding her for seven days, according to an Iraqi official who confirmed the development to the Associated Press.
Kittleson, an independent reporter with extensive experience covering Iraq and Syria, was captured the evening of March 31 in a street in Baghdad. The group announced her release through a Telegram message in Arabic attributed to Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, a security official for the Iran-backed militia.
In a statement, al-Assaf said the group decided to release Kittleson "in appreciation of the national positions of the outgoing prime minister," on the condition that she leave the country immediately. The official characterized the release as exceptional, stating it would not be repeated in coming days given what he described as a state of war initiated by what he called the "Zionist-American enemy" against Islam.
Militia officials said that in exchange for Kittleson's release, members of the group who had been detained by Iraqi authorities would be freed. The specifics of any prisoner exchange were not detailed in available accounts.
According to Iraqi and U.S. authorities, Kittleson had been warned repeatedly in the days before her capture about concrete threats against her. Officials did not elaborate on the nature or source of those warnings.
Kataib Hezbollah is an Iran-backed militia that has been in conflict with Israel and the United States since February 28, according to the group's statements.