American journalist Shelley Kittleson has been kidnapped in Baghdad — BBC
On Thursday evening in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, armed men abducted American freelance journalist Shelley Kittleson.
The BBC reports this.
One of the key suspects in this brazen crime is linked to the paramilitary group Kataib Hezbollah, which actively supports Iran.
Iraqi security forces launched an immediate manhunt for the perpetrators as soon as they received word of the attack.
According to the country’s interior minister, law enforcement officers managed to apprehend one of the suspects during the operation.
Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Engagement Dylan Johnson officially confirmed the abduction of a U.S. citizen.
Although he did not name her in his statement, he emphasized the seriousness of the U.S. government’s commitment to resolving the situation.
“The State Department previously fulfilled its duty by warning this individual of threats against her and will continue to coordinate with the FBI to secure her release as soon as possible,” the senior official noted. Currently, U.S. intelligence agencies are involved in the search.
The administration, led by U.S. President Donald Trump, is keeping a close eye on the issue of its citizen’s release.
The White House traditionally takes a tough stance on protecting Americans who find themselves held hostage in dangerous regions.
It has emerged that officials repeatedly contacted Kittleson, warning her against staying in the Iraqi capital.
The journalist received the last such warning just one day before her abduction in Baghdad.
Shelley Kittleson worked for Al-Monitor for a long time, covering complex political and security developments in the Middle East. Her work often focused on the influence of pro-Iranian groups in the region.
As a reminder, the U.S. is banking on a deal with Iran.
Furthermore, a war with Iran would be costly for Arab countries.
