American journalist Shelly Kittleson has been released after her abduction in Baghdad on March 31 by militants from the Iranian-backed militia Kata’ib Hezbollah, U.S. and Iraqi sources told CBS News. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed her release and said the U.S. is assisting to secure her safe departure from Iraq.
Iraqi government sources and a person familiar with the case told CBS News that Kata’ib Hezbollah had Kittleson’s name on a list of American journalists to be targeted. A militia spokesperson posted on the group’s Telegram channel that she would be released on the condition that she leave Iraq immediately; her exact location following the release was not disclosed.
Two militia officials told The Associated Press that Iraqi authorities had agreed to free several detained Kata’ib Hezbollah members in return for Kittleson’s freedom. Earlier, the group released an undated video of Kittleson, about two and a half minutes long, showing her wearing a pink sweater and a green blazer.
Rubio thanked the FBI, the Department of Defense, U.S. personnel across multiple agencies, the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council and Iraqi partners for their help. FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency was “thrilled,” praising the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell along with the State and Defense departments, and called the effort a team commitment to leaving no American behind.
U.S. officials had warned Kittleson about a specific threat from Kata’ib Hezbollah, including as recently as the night before she was taken, a U.S. official told CBS News. Alex Plitsas, Kittleson’s U.S. point of contact and a CNN national security analyst, said the U.S. government had warned her of the danger.
Journalist Kiran Nazish, founder of the Coalition for Women in Journalism, said Kittleson had gone to Iraq to stay with a family who assured her they would keep her safe. Nazish added that Kittleson had been advised not to travel but had prior reporting experience in Iraq and Syria; Kittleson is based in Rome and has spent time in Istanbul.
Reporters from The Associated Press and contributions from Cara Tabachnick, Pat Milton, Omar Abdulkader and Margaret Brennan were also part of the coverage of this story.