American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was abducted in Iraq last week, has been released, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed in a statement on April 7.

Kittleson, a freelance journalist who contributes to Al-Monitor, was abducted by the Iranian-backed terrorist group Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, last week.

Rubio said in a post on X that Kittleson has been freed and U.S. officials are working to facilitate her safe departure from Iraq.

“Under President Trump, the wrongful detention or kidnapping of U.S. nationals will not be tolerated. We will continue to use every tool to bring Americans home and to hold accountable those responsible,” he said.

Rubio said the FBI, the Department of War, and U.S. personnel from multiple agencies, along with the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council and Iraqi partners, have assisted in securing her release.

Kataib Hezbollah was listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government in 2009.

The State Department on March 2 ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees to leave Iraq due to security concerns, citing terrorism, armed conflict, and kidnapping in the country.

Abu Muhajid al-Assaf, a security official with the Iranian-backed group, said the decision was made “in recognition of the national stances” of outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani.

Kataib Hezbollah agreed to release the journalist on the condition that she “leave the country immediately,” al-Assaf said in a statement, according to local news outlet Iraqi News.

In a post on X, National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. said that journalists should not be targeted for their work.

“While we welcome news of her freedom, Ms. Kittleson’s kidnapping should not have occurred in the first place. It happened at a time when traditional protections for the media are under continual attack,” Schoeff said.

Kittleson was abducted on March 31. The Iraqi ministry said at the time that security forces tracked the kidnappers and chased their vehicle, which overturned as they attempted to flee. One of them was arrested, and authorities seized the vehicle.

No details about the suspect were provided. The Iraqi Interior Ministry said efforts were ongoing to track down the remaining perpetrators and vowed to “take due legal action against all those involved in this criminal act.”

On April 3, press rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, and the Foley Foundation, wrote a joint letter to Rubio urging him to designate Kittleson as a hostage. They said this would indicate that the U.S. government would mobilize all available resources and diplomatic channels to secure her release.

Kataib Hezbollah was listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government in 2009. The State Department on March 2 ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees to leave Iraq due to security concerns, citing terrorism, armed conflict, and kidnapping in the country.

In another incident, Elizabeth Tsurkov, a dual citizen of Israel and Russia, was kidnapped in March 2023 while carrying out research in Baghdad. President Donald Trump said in September 2025 that Tsurkov was released “after being tortured for many months” by Kataib Hezbollah.