American journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Iraq on Tuesday evening by a group of men with apparent ties to Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah.
Kittleson, who is based in Baghdad, reports from the Middle East and Afghanistan. She has written for publications including Al Monitor and New Lines magazine.
In recent weeks, she has reported from Syria.
Iraq's Interior Ministry said a foreign journalist was abducted by "unknown people".
The US State Department said it was "aware" of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist. Spokesman Dylan Johnson said the Department had warned the journalist of threats against her.
"We will continue to co-ordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible," Mr Johnson wrote on X.
"An individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hezballah believed to be involved in the kidnapping has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities."
An Iraqi security official confirmed to The National that the missing person was Kittleson.
The ministry said one suspected kidnapper was arrested while trying to escape. But "efforts are ongoing to track down others involved and free the abducted person", it said.
"We are deeply alarmed by the kidnapping of Al-Monitor contributor Shelly Kittleson in Iraq on Tuesday. We call for her safe and immediate release," Al Monitor said.
"We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work."
The US embassy in Iraq has advised American citizens to leave the country due to the regional war. Iraq has been caught in the crossfire due to the presence of US troops and pro-Iran armed groups on its territory.
One such group, Kataib Hezbollah, held academic Elizabeth Tsurkov captive for almost two years after she was kidnapped in Baghdad in 2023. The Russian and Israeli citizen had been studying in the US.
