American journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in central Baghdad on Tuesday night by unidentified assailants, Iraqi authorities confirmed, as safety forces launched an pressing operation to find her and apprehend these accountable.Iraq’s inside ministry mentioned a overseas journalist had been kidnapped by “unknown people” within the capital, with out initially disclosing her identification or nationality. A safety supply later confirmed the sufferer as Kittleson. The ministry added that efforts had been below technique to safe her launch, with a number of items deployed to trace the perpetrators.In keeping with officers, safety forces pursued a automobile believed for use within the kidnapping. The automotive overturned close to Musayyib because the suspects tried to flee, resulting in the arrest of 1 particular person. Authorities additionally seized one of many automobiles linked to the kidnapping, whereas persevering with to hunt for others concerned.“The Ministry affirms that efforts are ongoing to trace down the remaining people concerned and safe the discharge of the kidnapped journalist,” the assertion mentioned.The US embassy in Baghdad declined to touch upon the incident.Whereas Baghdad was as soon as infamous for kidnappings, such incidents had declined in recent times resulting from improved safety situations. Nonetheless, the kidnapping echoes previous instances, together with the 2023 kidnapping of Israeli-Russian educational Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was held for almost two years earlier than being launched.