Iran-backed Iraqi militia releases kidnapped American reporter

April 7 (UPI) -- An Iran-backed militia freed an American journalist it kidnapped last month in a prisoner exchange with the Iraqi government, Iraqi and militia officials announced Tuesday.

The militia, Kataib Hezbollah, confirmed the release of Shelly Kittleson in response to negotiations with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani. Kataib Hezbollah representative Abu Mujahid al-Assaf said Kittleson was released "on the condition that she leaves the country immediately."

"This initiative will not be repeated again in the coming days," Assaf said in a statement on Telegram. "We are in a state of war wage by the American-Zionist enemy against Islam, and in such circumstances many considerations fall away."

Kataib Hezbollah abducted Kittleson in late March and set her free in a swap involving multiple members of the militia, Iraqi security officials told The New York Times. The Washington Post reported that it was believed Kittleson was held at Turf al-Sakhar, a stronghold of the militia about 40 miles north of Baghdad.

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he extended his department's appreciation to those who had assisted in securing her release, which he framed as a reflection of the Trump administration's steadfast commitment to the safety and security of American citizens, no matter where they are in the world."

"We are relieved that this American is now free and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq," he said in a statement.

The National Press Club said it was "relieved" to learn of Kittleson's release and hoped for her safe departure from Iraq.

"Today's development is a welcome update for all those who believe in the ability for journalists to report safely and freely," club president Mark Schoeff Jr. said in a statement.

"Her ordeal underscores the growing threats journalists face today as they do their jobs and report the truth."

Kataib Hezbollah is a U.S.-designated terror organization and has links to Iran's Quds Force, part of Iran's military. It's the second kidnapping of a foreign national by the group in Iraq in recent years.

In September, the group released Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian citizen and Princeton University student, after more than two years of captivity.

Kittleson worked as a freelance reporter for more than a decade in the Middle East.

Amid an escalation of regional violence in response to the war in Iran, the U.S. government urged all American citizens living in Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to leave as soon as possible.

According to Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to Trump, 106 Americans held in foreign countries have been released since January 2025.

"No man, or woman, left behind," he said on X.