American journalist Shelly Kittleson kidnapped in Iraq, US officials say

State department says it is working to ensure release of freelancer ‘as soon as possible’ after abduction in Baghdad An American journalist, Shelly Kittleson, has been kidnapped in Baghdad by a suspected Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, the US said, as regional security deteriorates after the US-Israeli attack on Iran. Kittleson is a longtime freelancer in the region, reporting extensively from Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.