An American journalist has been kidnapped by an armed group in Baghdad, Iraqi officials have confirmed.

Shelly Kittleson, a freelance reporter based in the Middle East and Afghanistan, was abducted by a group of unidentified men near her hotel in the Iraqi capital on Tuesday.  

The Iraqi interior ministry confirmed that a ‘foreign journalist was kidnapped by unknown individuals,’ adding that security forces are pursuing the perpetrators.

‘The pursuit resulted in the interception of a vehicle belonging to the kidnappers, which overturned as they attempted to flee,’ the ministry said, confirming that a suspect was arrested.

The journalist was reportedly taken near the Palestine Hotel on Al-Saadoun Street in central Baghdad. No group has claimed responsibility yet.

Kittleson was not in the vehicle intercepted by Iraqi security forces and her whereabouts are said to be currently unknown.

Kittleson, who has written for publications including Al Monitor, Foreign Policy, and The National, has reported across Iraq and the Middle East.

Shelly Kittleson, a freelance reporter based in the Middle East and Afghanistan , was abducted by a group of unidentified men near her hotel in the Iraqi capital on Tuesday

The journalist has been kidnapped by an armed group in Baghdad, Iraqi officials have confirmed

She was in Baghdad to cover the impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran. 

Iraqi security forces are said to be continuing search operations and questioning the detained suspect as part of efforts to locate the journalist. 

Kidnappings of journalists in Iran are often linked to militia activity, a topic she has reported on previously.

In September, Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov was released after being abducted by Iraq’s pro-Iran faction Kataib Hezbollah

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.