Iranian-backed Iraqi militia releases kidnapped American reporter
by Danielle Haynes · UPIApril 7 (UPI) -- An Iranian-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 against in the coming days," Assaf said. "We are in a state of war resembling that imposed by the american enemy against Islam, and in such situations, many considerations are set aside."
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.
Kataib Hezbollah is a U.S.-designated terror organization and has links to Iran's Quds Forces, 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 Israel-Russian citizen and Princeton University student, after more than two years of captivity.
Kittleson worked as a freelancer 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 UAE and Qatar to leave as soon as possible.