Context:
Kidnapped freelance American journalist Shelly Kittleson has reportedly been released according to Iraqi officials.
Kittleson was kidnapped a few days ago by Kataib Hezbollah (KH), a powerful Iranian-backed Iraqi militia. KH has said that in exchange for Kittleson’s release, several imprisoned members of the militia were also released by Iraqi authorities.
US officials reportedly warned Kittleson multiple times prior to her kidnapping that there were credible threats against her and to leave Iraq immediately.
38
Suspicious-Coffee20Apr 8, 2026
+12
Oh dam surprised they actually got her out in this situations. Usually when they warn you if you don't comply they jsut leave you.
12
StreetStripeApr 8, 2026
+4
Any examples of cases where the US left American hostages because they were warned?
4
Memory_Leak_Apr 10, 2026
+1
Wasn't that the case for a lot of the folks captured in Syria and Northern Iraq by ISIS?
1
Dagonet_the_MotleyApr 7, 2026
+66
Im sure she's cool with leaving.
66
Successful-Mouse2774Apr 7, 2026
+39
“And never come back!”
“Okay.”
39
Baked4skinApr 7, 2026
+9
Going from kidnapped to kicked out is wild but I bet she's not complaining. I would not even believe them if I was her lol I would be like what? I can ... go ? You're kicking me out ? Is this a trick?
9
jaa101Apr 8, 2026
+2
[According to AP](https://apnews.com/article/journalist-kidnapped-iraq-shelly-kittleson-3e1a3a8e96656629abd1152c098e9caf): "in exchange for freeing Kittleson, several members of the group who had previously been detained by Iraqi authorities would be released." Nice going Kittleson.
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