Iraq Sentences Iran-Backed Militia Member to 15 Years in Prison for Kidnapping US Journalist 

An Iraqi court has handed a 15-year prison sentence to Amir Rahim Jabbar, a member of Iran-backed Kataeb Hezbollah, for the March 31 kidnapping of American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Baghdad. 

The ruling was issued Sunday under an “anti-terrorism law … for the crime of kidnapping,” according to a court document published by local media. Its authenticity was confirmed to AFP by a judicial source, while a Kataeb Hezbollah source confirmed that the sentence involved one of the group’s members. 

Kittleson welcomed the decision, posting a copy of the ruling on X and saying she was “grateful to the Iraqi judiciary.” 

Her abduction took place at the height of the Middle East war. Kittleson was held for several days and released only hours before the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire. Iraqi authorities arrested a Kataeb Hezbollah member following the kidnapping. 

The case comes as Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s new government seeks to bring Iran-backed armed factions under state control. Washington designates several of the groups as terrorist organizations and has been pressing Baghdad to curb Tehran’s influence. 

During the Middle East war, Kataeb Hezbollah and other pro-Iran groups intervened in support of Tehran and claimed attacks against US facilities in Iraq and elsewhere in the region. 

Efforts to disarm the groups have faced resistance. Kataeb Hezbollah is among those refusing to surrender its weapons and earlier this month accused Zaidi of “provocative and irresponsible actions.” 

Baghdad had previously been plagued by kidnappings and attempted abductions, although such incidents have declined in recent years as security conditions improved.