Shelly Kittleson, a 49-year-old freelance journalist from the United States, was kidnapped in Baghdad on March 31 and has now been released after a week of captivity. An Iraqi official confirmed her release, stating that she had been held in Baghdad prior to her freedom. The Iran-backed militia, Kataib Hezbollah, announced the decision to release Kittleson, attributing it to the patriotic stances of outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. However, they stipulated that Kittleson must leave Iraq immediately. Negotiations for her release encountered difficulties, with Iraqi officials indicating that communication with Kataib Hezbollah's leadership was challenging. Kittleson, who has built a respected journalism career in the Middle East, had been warned by US officials about potential threats but chose to remain in Iraq. The militia has previously been implicated in the kidnapping of foreigners, including Elizabeth Tsurkov, who claimed to have been held by them in 2023.