American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped on March 31 from a street corner in Baghdad, has been released, according to an Iraqi official. The Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah announced her release, stating it was in appreciation of the patriotic stances of the outgoing prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. However, they stipulated that Kittleson must leave Iraq immediately. Prior to her release, Kittleson was held in Baghdad, and negotiations for her freedom faced significant challenges. The militia had not previously acknowledged its involvement in her abduction, although U.S. and Iraqi officials had pointed to them as responsible. Reports indicate that in exchange for her release, several detained militia members would also be freed. Kittleson, 49, had been a freelance journalist with a career focused on the Middle East, particularly Iraq and Syria, before her kidnapping. U.S. officials had warned her of threats against her, but she chose to remain in the region. The situation highlights the ongoing complexities of security and negotiations involving Iran-backed militias in Iraq.