Washington — American journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday, according to two sources familiar with the matter as well as an Iraqi official.

Iraq’s Interior Ministry announced that a foreign journalist was kidnapped by “unknown individuals” but did not identify who was taken. The ministry said that security forces had managed to arrest one suspect and seize a vehicle used in the abduction.

Alex Plitsas, Kittleson’s designated point of contact in the U.S. and a CNN national security analyst, confirmed to CBS News that Kittleson had been kidnapped. Plitsas said that the U.S. government had warned Kittleson about a specific threat against her by the Iranian-backed paramilitary group Kata’ib Hezbollah, which was allegedly looking to kidnap or kill female journalists. 

Plitsas said Kittleson was advised that her name was on a list in Kata’ib Hezbollah’s possession. A second source confirmed that she had been told of a risk but that she thought it was likely false information. 

Kittleson was contacted multiple times with warnings of threats against her, including as recently as Monday night, a U.S. official said.

Dylan Johnson, an assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, confirmed in a post on X that the suspect who was taken into custody by Iraqi authorities had ties to Kata’ib Hezbollah. 

Without naming Kittleson, Johnson also said that the State Department had “previously fulfilled our duty to warn this individual of threats against them and we will continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure their release as quickly as possible.”

An Iraqi official told CBS News that authorities are working “at the highest level” to secure Kittleson’s release.

The FBI, National Security Council, State Department, Delta Force and the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service are in contact about the situation, according to sources familiar with the investigation. 

AI-Monitor, a Middle East-focused news outlet for which Kittleson works as a freelance reporter, released a statement calling for her immediate release. 

“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,” the statement said. “We stand by her vital reporting from the region and call for her swift return to continue her important work.” 

The FBI declined to comment, and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

On March 29, the U.S. Embassy in Iraq warned that Iran and its aligned terrorist militias may intend to target American universities in Baghdad and other cities, as well as universities associated with the U.S. Americans were told to leave Iraq for their own safety.

VATICAN CITY — VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV expressed hope that the U.S.-Israel war on Iran could be finished before Easter in remarks to reporters as he left the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo outside of Rome on Tuesday.

“I’m told that President Trump has recently stated that he would like to end the war,’’ the U.S.-born pope said. “I hope that he’s looking for an off-ramp.’’

“Hopefully he’s looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that’s being created, that’s increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere.”

Leo called on all world leaders to return to dialogue and look for “ways to reduce the amount of violence,’’ so that “peace, especially at Easter, might reign in our hearts.’’

Leo’s remarks came during Holy Week, the most sacred period of the year for Christians.

“It should be the holiest time of the year. It is a time of peace, a time of reflection. But as we all know, again, in the world, in many places we are seeing so much suffering, so many deaths, even innocent children,’’ Leo said. “We constantly make the call for peace, but unfortunately, many people want to promote hatred, violence, war.’’

On Palm Sunday, the pontiff said God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who make war or cite God to justify their violence, as he prayed especially for Christians in the Middle East during Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

Leaders on all sides of the Iran war have used religion to justify their actions. U.S. officials, especially Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have invoked their Christian faith to cast the war as a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might.

Russia’s Orthodox Church, too, has justified Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “holy war” against a Western world it considers has fallen into evil.

As Holy Week continues, Leo will carry out the Holy Thursday foot-washing tradition in the basilica of St. John Lateran, where popes have performed it for decades. On Friday, Leo is due to preside over the Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum commemorating Christ’s Passion and crucifixion, and will carry the cross himself. Saturday brings the late night Easter Vigil, during which Leo will baptize new Catholics, followed a few hours later by Easter Sunday when Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.

Leo will celebrate Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square and then deliver his Easter blessing from the loggia of the basilica.