Baghdad, April 1: An American journalist has been kidnapped in Baghdad by a suspected Iran-backed Iraqi armed group, the US Department of State confirmed, raising fresh concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in the region.

The State Department said it is actively working to secure the journalist’s release at the earliest.

“The US Department of State is aware of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist in Baghdad, Iraq. 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,” Dylan Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs, said in a post on X.

He further stated, “An individual with ties to the Iranian-aligned militia group Kataib Hizballah believed to be involved in the kidnapping has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities.”

Johnson also reiterated that Iraq remains under a Level 4 travel advisory, cautioning that Americans should not travel to the country under any circumstances and advising those present to leave immediately.

“The State Department strongly advise all Americans, including members of the press, to adhere to all travel advisories,” he added.

Earlier, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that the journalist had been abducted by “unknown individuals” in Baghdad, according to the Iraqi News Agency.

Security forces have arrested one suspect and seized a vehicle allegedly used in the kidnapping following a pursuit operation, the ministry said, adding that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other individuals involved and ensure the journalist’s safe recovery.

The abducted journalist has been identified as Shelly Kittleson, a freelance reporter, by media advocacy organisations and Al-Monitor, one of the outlets where she has contributed.

Kittleson is known for her extensive reporting from conflict zones, particularly in Syria and Iraq, and has been working as a freelancer in the region for several years.

In a statement, Al-Monitor said it was “deeply alarmed” by her abduction and called for her “safe and immediate release.”

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

According to the International Women’s Media Foundation, Kittleson is a “legitimate journalist” with significant experience in the Middle East and is currently based in Rome.

Tehran, April 1: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has sent a message to Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem, pledging continued support for the resistance against the United States and Israel, the semi-official Fars news agency reported early Wednesday.

In his message, Iran’s supreme leader appreciated Qassem’s condolences and sympathy for the “martyrdom” of his father, Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a US-Israeli airstrike in Tehran on February 28.

Khamenei said steadfastness and resistance against the Muslim world’s “most stubborn enemies,” namely, the United States and Israel, were among the most prominent characteristics of Iran’s former supreme leader, Xinhua news agency reported.

He praised late Hezbollah leaders for their fights, bravery and sacrifices.

Khamenei said he has confidence in Qassem’s wisdom, intelligence and courage to thwart the plans of Israel and restore honor and prosperity to the Lebanese people.

Iran’s Assembly of Experts on March 8 announced the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said that it had hit an Israeli container ship in the Persian Gulf with ballistic missiles during a new wave of attacks against US and Israeli targets, Tasnim news agency reported.

The IRGC warned that companies it accused of involvement in “terrorist espionage” could be targeted, naming several major US technology firms and urging employees and nearby residents to leave the areas. It also said that its forces have launched drone attacks on “important and strategic” communication, telecommunication, and industrial centers affiliated with the Israeli army.

Iran executed two “armed terrorists” affiliated with the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) for their involvement in several “terror operations” in Tehran aimed at toppling the country’s establishment.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi called reports that Iran fired a missile toward Türkiye “completely baseless.”

Tokyo, March 31: Japan’s Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that long-range missiles with counterstrike capabilities have been brought into service for the first time at two Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) bases in the country, a move that has sparked domestic opposition.

The deployment of the missiles at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, and Camp Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, marks a significant shift from the country’s long-standing exclusively defence-oriented policy under its war-renouncing Constitution, reports Xinhua, quoting Kyodo News.

Camp Kengun has been equipped with a ground-launched version of the upgraded Type 12 land-to-ship guided missile that can fly about 1,000 kilometres, far exceeding Japan’s territorial boundaries and widely seen as having clear offensive capabilities.

Meanwhile, hyper velocity gliding projectiles have been equipped at a training unit at Camp Fuji. Designed for island defence, the deployed model has a range of several hundred kilometres, with the ministry working to upgrade it to around 2,000 kilometres.

Kyodo News noted that “enemy base strike capability” refers to Japan’s ability to launch counterstrikes against adversary bases before actual damage occurs, if it determines that an attack is imminent. However, analysts warn that misjudgments could risk violating international law by constituting a preemptive strike.

Atsushi Koketsu, emeritus professor at Yamaguchi University in Japan, told Xinhua that while the government frames the capability as a means of strengthening deterrence, it “clearly goes beyond the scope of self-defence.”

On Tuesday, local residents in Kumamoto staged protests near Camp Kengun, holding placards reading “Oppose deployment” and “No missiles needed,” Kyodo News reported.

Protesters expressed concern that the deployment could turn the area into a potential military target, and have repeatedly called on the defence ministry to hold public briefings, which have yet to take place, the report said.

Separately, more than a dozen citizen representatives met with defence ministry officials in Tokyo on Monday, urging the government to halt its military expansion measures, including the missile deployment in Kumamoto. Participants criticised officials for providing vague responses and frequently avoiding transparency.

Citizen representative Kujirai said after the meeting that the government’s replies followed a “routine pattern,” increasingly citing “confidentiality” as a pretext when declining to answer specific questions. He also criticised Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s push to “make Japan strong and wealthy,” arguing it amounts to large-scale military expansion without adequate public accountability. “This is a misinterpretation of the citizens’ demands and a very dangerous stance,” he said.

Another representative, Akira Saito, told Xinhua that the government officials’ response remained very limited. Going forward, in addition to directly questioning Takaichi at the parliamentary level, “it is crucial to continuously expand and amplify our voices through civic movements,” he said.