ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A foreign journalist was abducted in central Baghdad on Tuesday evening, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced, with one suspect arrested, as regional tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate.
“A foreign journalist was kidnapped by unidentified individuals," the ministry said in a statement, adding that security forces "managed to arrest one of the suspects and seize one of the vehicles used in the crime."
According to media reports, the journalist is believed to be American freelance reporter Shelly Kittleson, a contributor to Al-Monitor.
"We are deeply alarmed by the kidnapping of Al-Monitor contributor Shelly Kittleson in Iraq on Tuesday," the US-based website said in a statement, calling for her "safe and immediate" release.
CNN national security analyst Alex Plitsas confirmed on X that his friend, Shelly Kittleson, was abducted in Baghdad and might have been "held hostage" by Iraq's pro-Iran Khatib Hezbollah.
🚨🚨🚨 I can confirm that my friend Shelly Kittleson was abducted and may have taken hostage in Baghdad by Khatib Hezbollah. Whereabouts and condition unknown. I am her designated U.S. point of contact. If you have information please provide to law enforcement and send me a DM.
— Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 (@alexplitsas) March 31, 2026
The kidnapping of the journalist comes amid escalating regional tensions following a US and Israeli military campaign against Iran that began late last month.
The ministry confirmed that "efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining individuals involved, rescue the victim, and take formal legal measures against all participants in this criminal act, in accordance with the law."
The Ministry of Interior also warned that it would "not permit any attempt to destabilize security or target foreign guests."
On February 28, the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran, with the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reporting on Saturday that more than 11,000 targets have been hit across the country.
In retaliation, Tehran has carried out thousands of drone and missile attacks across the Middle East, targeting alleged US assets - particularly in Gulf Arab states - as well as launching retaliatory strikes against Israel.
The ongoing regional conflict has also spilled into Iraq. An air base near Baghdad International Airport was hit by a rocket attack on Monday, destroying a transport aircraft but causing no casualties, according to Iraq’s defense ministry.
The day before, Iraqi forces “thwarted an attempted Katyusha rocket launch” in Kirkuk, seizing “a platform that included two launch bases and four rockets ready for immediate firing,” the defense ministry added.
Iran’s response has involved Iraqi armed groups aligned with the Tehran-led ‘Axis of Resistance,’ with several factions claiming responsibility for attacks on alleged US targets in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
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