US freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson is an award winning journalist. (Photo: Instagram/ Shelly Kittleson) US freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson has been abducted from Baghdad on Tuesday by unknown individuals, Iraq’s interior ministry said, as security forces launched an operation to track down the kidnappers, Baghdad’s local media stated.
Iraq’s interior ministry added that the operation was launched “acting on precise intelligence and through intensive field operations” after intercepting a vehicle belonging to the kidnappers that overturned as they tried to flee, AP reported.
The interior ministry added that the journalist, whose identity was not officially disclosed, was kidnapped on Tuesday evening but declined to specify the exact location. However, Iraqi media said that Kittleson was kidnapped in central Baghdad.
Iraq’s local media identified the journalist as Shelly Kittleson, who holds a US passport and is an award winning journalist. Authorities said efforts are ongoing to free the journalist.