Iraq’s Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday (March 31) that a foreign journalist has been kidnapped in Iraq. The ministry did not immediately disclose the identity and nationality of the journalist but stated that efforts are underway to rescue the journalist. Several media reports suggest that the kidnapped individual is an American female journalist.
According to the statement released by Iraq’s Ministry of Interior, a kidnapper’s vehicle overturned while attempting to escape. Security forces intercepted the vehicle and initiated a pursuit of the remaining kidnappers based on precise intelligence and intensive field operations.
The statement noted that one suspect has been arrested, and a vehicle involved in the kidnapping has been seized, but other suspects are still at large.
According to reports from the Associated Press, two Iraqi security officials have indicated that the abducted journalist is a female American national. The kidnapping involved two vehicles, with one crashing and being apprehended by authorities, while the vehicle transporting the journalist fled the scene.
As reported by Reuters, two police sources revealed that a female journalist holding a U.S. passport was kidnapped by unidentified abductors in Baghdad on Tuesday. The sources also mentioned that four men in plain clothes forcibly took her away.
The police sources further added that the search operation is currently focused on the eastern region of the Iraqi capital because the kidnappers’ vehicle is believed to be heading in that direction.
According to Saudi media outlet Al-Hadath, the American journalist in question is Shelly Kittleson, who was abducted in Baghdad.
It is currently unclear whether this kidnapping incident is related to the ongoing conflict with Iran. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has not issued any public comments regarding this event.