American journalist abducted off street corner in Iraq set free in exchange for 6 members of Iran-backed militia

The American journalist who was kidnapped in Iraq last week has been released.

Shelly Kittleson, 49, returned Tuesday after being kidnapped on a street corner in Baghdad, Iraqi officials said.

He was in Baghdad to investigate the impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Officials of the Iran-backed Iraqi militia group Kataib Hezbollah said: KSTP He said Kittleson was instructed to ‘leave the country immediately’ upon his release.

Kittleson lives in Rome, Italy, and has traveled the Middle East for freelance journalism for more than a decade, primarily in Iraq and Syria.

Two unnamed Iraqi security officials said that at least six members of Kataib Hezbollah who were detained by Iraqi authorities were released in exchange for Kittleson’s freedom.

Iraqi authorities reportedly detained the members for their involvement in attacks on the US base in Syria.

Kataib Hezbollah said in a statement that the decision was taken “in recognition of the patriotic stances of outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.”

Kittleson was reportedly abducted from a street corner in Baghdad on March 31. Two vehicles were involved in his hijacking.

‘This attempt will not be repeated in the future,’ they added. ‘We are in a war waged by the Zionist-American enemy against Islam, and many aspects are ignored in such situations.’

Kittleson was reported to be free in the afternoon, but his whereabouts were not disclosed. He was previously held in Baghdad.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio officially announced Kittleson’s release. X Tuesday evening.

“I am pleased to announce the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was recently kidnapped near Baghdad, Iraq, by members of the foreign terrorist organization Kata’ib Hizballah,” he wrote.

‘The U.S. State Department thanks the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the War Department, U.S. personnel at various agencies, the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council, and our Iraqi partners for their assistance in securing his release.

‘This decision reflects the Trump Administration’s steadfast commitment to the safety and security of American citizens wherever they are in the world. Under President Trump, the wrongful detention or abduction of U.S. citizens will not be tolerated.

‘We will continue to use every tool to return Americans to their country and hold those responsible accountable. ‘We are relieved that this American is now free and that we are working to support his safe departure from Iraq.’

Kittleson has been a freelance journalist in the Middle East for more than a decade. He reported primarily in Iraq and Syria

Kataib Hezbollah was claimed to be responsible for the missile attacks on the US Embassy in Baghdad

On Tuesday, Kataib Hezbollah uploaded a video of Kittleson. reported New York Times.

Kataib Hezbollah officials released the video to demonstrate its ‘Role’. [Kittleson] and its activities in Iraq.’

In the heavily edited footage, Kittleson said he was providing information about Iraqi militias to an American diplomat.

‘I gathered information, but it wasn’t enough and they wanted more from me,’ he said.

International law experts told the Times that the video was likely shot under duress and that the statements in it could have been made under duress.

The US State Department reportedly warned Kittleson not to enter Iraq due to threats to the journalist and his safety.

Shortly before Kittleson’s release, Kataib Hezbollah released a video in which the journalist ‘confessed’ to providing information to US diplomats.

He was allegedly kidnapped by a group of unidentified men near his hotel in the Iraqi capital on March 31.

Kittleson was abducted by gunmen near the Palestine Hotel on Al-Saadoun Street in central Baghdad.

Authorities said two cars were involved in his hijacking. One crashed southwest of Baghdad while being pursued. Kittleson was placed in a second car and sped away.

Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful Shiite group based in Iraq, is a separate group from the Hezbollah movement, an Iran-backed group in Lebanon.

But both groups are closely linked to Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and are listed as terrorist organizations by the US government.

Kataib Hezbollah has launched frequent rocket and drone attacks on US targets in the war against Iran, including missile attacks on the US Embassy in Baghdad.

The group had not previously stated that they were responsible for Kittleson’s kidnapping.

The US State Department said it warned Kittleson not to enter Iraq because of threats against him.

Some unnamed officials said negotiations for Kittleson’s release were difficult.

‘The real difficulty is that the leaders of the Kataib militia, especially the battalion commanders, are nowhere to be found,’ they said. ‘No one knows where they are and the process of contacting them is extremely complex.’

Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces, along with the FBI and the U.S. State Department, were deployed to secure Kittleson’s release.

Kittleson’s release came just hours after President Donald Trump made threats against Iran if authorities did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. on April 7.

“Tonight an entire civilization will die and never be brought back,” he wrote in Truth Social. ‘I don’t want this to happen, but it probably will.’

It has since declared a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

The Daily Mail contacted the US State Department, the US Embassy in Baghdad and the FBI for more information.