Who Is Shelly Kittleson? What We Know About the US Reporter Kidnapped in Iraq

Following Kittleson's abduction on March 31, a major manhunt led to one arrest and the discovery of a vehicle involved in the crime. (Credit: Instagram / Shelly Kittleson)

An American journalist has been seized in central Baghdad, triggering a high-stakes search operation across the region. Armed men intercepted the veteran war correspondent on a busy street this Tuesday, just hours after she reportedly received specific warnings about her safety.

As security forces and international agencies track a series of getaway vehicles, the mystery deepens over the veteran reporter's whereabouts and the groups behind her disappearance.