U.S. journalist Shelly Kittleson being released after kidnapping in Iraq

U.S. American journalist Shelly Kittleson being released after she was kidnapped in Iraq, militia says By Tucker Reals Tucker Reals Editor Tucker Reals is CBSNews.com's foreign editor, based in the CBS News London bureau. He has worked for CBS News since 2006, prior to which he worked for The Associated Press in Washington, D.C., and London. Read Full Bio Tucker Reals April 7, 2026 / 12:18 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google American journalist Shelly Kittleson is being released a week after she was kidnapped in Baghdad, an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq said Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Kata'ib Hezbollah militia said in a post on the group's Telegram messaging app channel that Kittleson was being released on the condition that she leave Iraq immediately.Her whereabouts were not immediately clear.Alex Plitsas, Kittleson's designated point of contact in the U.S. and a CNN national security analyst, previously told CBS News the U.S. government had warned Kittleson about a specific threat against her by Kata'ib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed paramilitary group that was allegedly looking to kidnap or kill female journalists. Kittleson was contacted multiple times with warnings of threats against her, including as recently as the night before she was abducted, a U.S. official had told CBS News.This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates. The War with Iran More Delta hikes bag check fee by up to $50 as jet fuel prices soar