American Journalist Kittleson Released in Baghdad

American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson was released Tuesday afternoon in Baghdad after being kidnapped from a street corner in the Iraqi capital on March 31. The 49-year-old reporter, known for her coverage of the Middle East, had been held by members of the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah, which announced earlier in the day that it would free her.

In a statement, Kataib Hezbollah said the decision came "in appreciation of the patriotic stances of the outgoing prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani," without providing further explanation. The group added that Kittleson must leave Iraq immediately upon her release and that "this initiative will not be repeated in the future." Prior to the announcement, the militia had not publicly acknowledged responsibility for the abduction, though U.S. and Iraqi officials had identified it as the likely perpetrator.

An Iraqi official with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed the release but did not disclose Kittleson's current whereabouts. Officials from the militia told reporters that her freedom was part of an exchange for several of its members detained by Iraqi authorities, including six linked to attacks on a U.S....