A senior US official said Washington had warned American journalist Shelly Kittleson about threats before her abduction in Baghdad, as Iraqi authorities continue searching for her and suspicions circulate around armed groups including Iraq’s Kataeb Hezbollah.
Iraqi authorities and US officials said the 49-year-old independent journalist was kidnapped by unidentified assailants in central Baghdad on Tuesday.
Iraq’s interior ministry said its forces pursued the kidnappers as they transferred Kittleson between vehicles, managing to detain one suspect and seize one of the cars used, while operations continue to locate the remaining participants and the site where she is being held.
In the first official US response, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson said the State Department had “done its duty” in warning the journalist about threats targeting her. Writing on X, Johnson added that the department is coordinating with the FBI to secure her release.
Johnson did not disclose details about the nature or timing of the threats, but linked the case to the ongoing US travel advisory warning Americans about risks in Iraq.
While the public US statement stopped at referencing prior warnings, The Associated Press cited US and Iraqi officials as saying Kittleson had received repeated warnings in the days leading up to her abduction, including calls to leave Iraq due to specific security risks.
Kittleson is known for covering Iraq, Syria and the Middle East for several international outlets, including Al-Monitor, the BBC, Politico and Foreign Policy.
Her abduction has prompted reactions from media institutions and press freedom organizations, which have called on Iraqi authorities to intensify efforts to locate her and hold those responsible accountable.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the operation. However, US reports have referred to the detention of a suspect believed to have links to elements associated with Kataeb Hezbollah in Iraq, though no official confirmation or direct claim of responsibility has been issued by the group.
More broadly, the US State Department maintains Iraq at level four—its highest risk category—under a “do not travel” advisory. The US embassy in Baghdad said on March 2 that American citizens in Iraq face high risks including violence and kidnapping, and that armed groups hostile to Washington threaten US nationals and international companies.
On March 22, the State Department issued a global alert urging US citizens, particularly in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution, placing Bahrain and Kuwait at level three risk.
