Mike Baker

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Welcome back to the BDB Afternoon Bulletin.

An American journalist kidnapped by an Iran-backed proxy in Iraq has been released after weeks in captivity.

We're learning it was Secretary of State Marco Rubio who confirmed that Shelley Kittleson is now free and currently in Iraqi government custody, with plans underway to get her out of the country safely.

Iraqi officials say they made, quote, extensive efforts to ensure her safety.

But to understand what exactly happened here, you have to start with who took her.

She was taken by Qata'ib Hezbollah, one of the hardest line Iranian-backed militias operating inside Iraq.

It's a group that Washington has formally designated as a foreign terrorist organization with direct ties to Iran's Quds Force.

And as we've been tracking here on the podcast, one that has spent years targeting American personnel across Iraq and Syria.

She was taken hostage on the 31st of March on a street corner in central Baghdad.

Iraqi security forces launched a manhunt as U.S.

officials monitored the situation and coordinated with Iraqi counterparts.

Just a day after the kidnapping, Kata'ib Hezbollah signaled it was willing to negotiate, offering to release the freelance journalist in exchange for detained militia members.

And in the end, that's exactly how this was resolved.

Several imprisoned Kata'ib Hezbollah fighters were ultimately released as part of the deal that secured Kittleson's freedom.

The Iran-backed group later confirmed it had let her go, quote, in appreciation of Iraq's prime minister, who had been directly involved in negotiations.

Kataim Hezbollah's security chief also made clear the terms, saying the journalist would be released on the condition that she, quote, leave the country immediately, adding, this gesture will not be repeated in the future.