American journalist Shelly Kittleson freed after kidnapping in Iraq

Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah has announced the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who must immediately leave Iraq, a security official from the radical organisation, Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, said.

Al-Assaf added that the decision to release Kittleson was made "in appreciation of the national positions" of caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, according to foreign media.

The US citizen was abducted on March 31 in central Baghdad near the hotel where she was staying. 

Kittleson, who has worked in Baghdad for an extended period, focused her reporting on Iraqi armed groups, US-Iraq relations, and regional security developments. The US State Department later confirmed the journalist’s kidnapping.

By Jeyhun Aghazada