BAGHDAD — U.S. freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday evening, with one of the suspects in her abduction linked to an Iran-backed militia group. Iraqi authorities arrested one suspect in connection with the kidnapping after security forces chased the abductors in a pursuit that resulted in one of the kidnappers' cars overturning, according to the interior ministry.

Dylan Johnson, assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, confirmed the abduction of an American journalist. "The State Department 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," Johnson said.

Surveillance camera footage showed that Kittleson was forced into a car by two men at a busy Baghdad intersection and then vanished. A U.S. state department official said an individual with ties to the militia group Kataib Hezbollah was detained by Iraqi authorities.

According to an Iraqi official, local authorities are working at the highest level to release Kittleson. The FBI, National Security Council, State Department, Delta Force and the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service were in contact about her abduction.

The Iraqi interior ministry said in a statement translated from Arabic that security forces immediately launched an operation to apprehend the perpetrators, acting on precise intelligence and through intensive field operations, tracking the kidnappers' movements. The ministry added that the pursuit resulted in the interception of a vehicle belonging to the kidnappers, which overturned as they attempted to escape. Security forces were able to arrest one of the suspects and seize one of the vehicles used in the crime.

U.S. officials had contacted Kittleson several times to warn her of threats against her, including as late as Monday night. Alex Plitsas, CNN national security analyst, said Kittleson had been warned by the U.S. government about a specific threat to her from Iran-backed paramilitaries. Plitsas said that Kittleson's name was on a list held by Kataib Hezbollah. The group was said to be plotting to kidnap or kill female journalists.

Hours before the abduction, Kittleson told a friend she received a warning from U.S. officials that a militia group intended to target her. Kittleson did not believe the threat was credible. "They will not hurt me," Kittleson said.

Al-Monitor is aware of Kittleson's kidnapping and is working with the Iraqi government to secure her release. Al-Monitor issued a statement calling for Kittleson's safe and immediate release.