Three Iraqi officials said Tuesday local authorities believed the powerful Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia was responsible for the kidnapping of a U.S. journalist in Iraq and that attempts to negotiate her release have run into obstacles.
U.S. officials had previously alleged the group was responsible for abducting freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson from a Baghdad street corner on March 31. The Iraqi government has not publicly named the group responsible, and the militia has not claimed the kidnapping.
