One week ago, I had a post with the terrifying video of American journalist Shelly Kittleson being dragged from her vehicle on a street in Baghdad, and shoved straight into another and then driven off.
The US State Department had warned Kittleson that they had found her name on a list of targets and not to remain in Iraq, but she went anyway.
…Kittleson had been warned to leave Iraq prior to her abduction, a source told NewsNation.
“The journalist that was kidnapped was also warned multiple times by the FBI as recently as the day before it happened. She was playing with fire. They specifically warned her that she was a target of potential Iranian-linked violence and they likely knew she was a kidnapping hostage target,” an FBI official told NewsNation.
The vehicle seen abducting her crashed during a chase and a gunfight. One suspect was captured, but Kittleson was not in the car.
🇺🇸🇮🇶 US journalist Shelly Kittleson was abducted in broad daylight in Baghdad on March 31 while reporting on Middle East conflicts.
US officials say she had been warned about threats prior to travelling. Iraqi forces pursued the kidnappers, with one suspect arrested after their… pic.twitter.com/0bGm5zINp5
— Europa.com (@europa) April 1, 2026
As the person who was caught in the chase was a member of the Kataib Hezbollah (KH), the Iranian-backed Iraqi-based militia group, concerns mounted that Kittleson would be used as a pawn in the ongoing US-Iran conflict, and fears intensified for her safety.
‘Different sources have reported she is safe and that she is in the hands of Kataib Hezbollah.’
Head of crisis desk at Reporters Without Borders, Martin Roux, speaks to Sky News about Shelly Kittleson’s kidnapping and the dangers that journalists face. pic.twitter.com/4gopxBkxpA
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 7, 2026
A few days later, after initially denying any part in the kidnapping, the militia began demanding the release of prisoners in exchange for the journalist’s freedom.
SEE! THIS IS WHY..!!!
This…is why:Iran-backed Iraqi terrorists Kata’ib Hezbollah are reportedly seeking negotiations with the Iraqi government for the release of kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson.
The group is demanding the release of detained terrorists in… pic.twitter.com/3HCf32AgOw
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) April 2, 2026
Iran-backed Iraqi terrorists Kata’ib Hezbollah are reportedly seeking negotiations with the Iraqi government for the release of kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson.
The group is demanding the release of detained terrorists in exchange for her freedom.
Kidnapping and hostage taking wouldn’t be a *thing* if…
Maybe if..I don’t know…
Stronger penalties were in place for terrorists in the first place? JS.
Throughout the ordeal, her friend and authorized contact, Alex Plitsas, begged for information and people with such to contact the FBI or Iraqi authorities.
It has been 7 days since journalist @shellykittleson was abducted by Kataib Hezbollah in Baghdad. She is an innocent woman and must be released immediately. Her abduction is dishonorable and shameful. Submit tips to @FBI, media requests, updates, advocate: https://t.co/2igydsAXM0 pic.twitter.com/YgKxOPAl50
— Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 (@alexplitsas) April 7, 2026
And then, suddenly, a few hours ago, the militia announced that Kittleson would be released, but warned it would not do so in any future incidents.
Iran-backed Iraqi militia group Kataib Hezbollah said it would release abducted American journalist Shelly Kittleson on Tuesday and that she must leave the country immediately, Reuters reported.
The U.S. government has not confirmed the report.
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.”
Naturally, the sick bastards couldn’t make the gesture without exacting their own excruciating pound of hostage video flesh.
The ‘confession’ just hit social media channels, and she looks terrified. Good Lord, I can’t imagine.
Her forced confession video reminded me of everything you went through and what you said about how incredibly dumb and stupid the men of these militias are.
— Reem Rifai (@ReemRifai_) April 7, 2026
Anything she said in the video would be the result of torture or a threat to use torture. Please avoid sharing it when it comes out.
Elizabeth Tsurkov, in the above Xweet, was held prisoner by the same group for 903 days and had her coerced hostage video released on November 13, 2023.
The New York Times is reporting that Kittleson has been released, in exchange for a couple of their Kataib Hezbollah homeboys.
An American journalist who was abducted in Baghdad by an Iraqi militia allied with Iran was freed on Tuesday after a week in captivity, according to the militia and two Iraqi security officials.
…“This initiative will not be repeated in the future,” a security commander from the group, who is known as Abu Mujahid Al-Asaf, said in the statement. “We are in a state of war waged by the Zionist-American enemy against Islam and in such situations many considerations are disregarded.”
There was no immediate comment from the United States Embassy in Baghdad.
Kataib Hezbollah, one of the most powerful militias in Iraq, is closely tied to Iran’s Quds Force, the overseas arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. The abduction of Ms. Kittleson, 49, is its second kidnapping of a foreigner in Iraq. In 2023, the group abducted Elizabeth Truskov, an Israeli-Russian doctoral student, and held her hostage for more than two years, torturing her while in captivity.
Ms. Kittleson, who has reported on the Middle East for more than a decade for various outlets, was set free in exchange for the release of several imprisoned Kataib Hezbollah members, according to the two Iraqi security officials. They asked not to be identified in order to discuss sensitive negotiations.
There isn’t any confirmation of that report elsewhere yet, and the ABC News report, which was saying the same, has winked out. So I’m not sure what is going on with it.
The editor of the news organization Kittleson freelanced for is now reporting the same.
Bright news in otherwise ominous Middle East day. @shellykittleson bravely reported from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan for decades. Hope she can return to do her job and tell the story of many who are not heard in region.
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) April 7, 2026
As well as lambasting outlets publicizing the video.
Disappointing to see big accounts on this platform are circulating Shelly’s video when she’s clearly under duress, held hostage and coerced into false confessions. This violates even the most basic principles of international law. They should know better
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) April 7, 2026
I hope for her sake that it is true.
I also hope, for her sake, she does not heed that editor’s advice and ”return to her job,’ at least in that woman-hating, God-forsaken neck of the woods.
Seriously. How many warnings does it take?
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