A US freelance journalist has been kidnapped in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, and one of the suspects is linked to an Iran-backed militia, Iraqi and US officials say. Shelly Kittleson was abducted on Tuesday evening, said Al-Monitor, a news outlet for which she has contributed articles. The Iraqi interior ministry reported that security forces had chased the reporter's abductors, leading to the overturning of one of the kidnappers' vehicles and the arrest of a suspect. A US state department official confirmed that an individual tied to the Iranian-aligned militia group, Kataib Hezbollah, was detained. Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, confirmed the abduction of an American journalist, without naming Kittleson. He stated that the State Department had previously warned Kittleson about threats against her and would continue working with the FBI for her swift release. Al-Monitor added that Kittleson was taken near a hotel in central Baghdad and described the situation as 'deeply alarming', calling for her immediate release. The Iraqi interior ministry assured that efforts are ongoing to track down the remaining perpetrators and secure the release of Kittleson, who has a history of covering conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Once infamous for kidnappings, Baghdad has seen a decline in such incidents as the security landscape has improved. However, concerns remain regarding the safety of journalists, especially those threatened by militia groups like Kataib Hezbollah.