Shelley Kittleson, a US freelance journalist, is now free and is on her way out of Iraq.
The kidnappers freed her on Tuesday, July 7th, in exchange for prisoners that they demanded from the Iraqi government.
Kataib Hezbollah said such a Friendly Act is a one-off
Kittleson’s kidnappers demanded that she leave Iraq immediately upon release. A statement from a paramilitary militia group aligned to Iran, Kataib Hezbollah, indicated that the journalist’s release was in honor of Iraq’s outgoing Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani. Apparently, the group likes the positions the Prime Minister holds on national issues.
Kittleson, who was kidnapped from Central Baghdad last week, has been a frequent reporter in the Gulf region. She has previously reported from Lebanon, Syria, and Afghanistan.
Although she hails from Wisconsin, USA, she has resided in Rome, Italy’s capital, for the past decade. The first time Kittleson went to Italy was to study. That was in 1995 at the age of 19.