American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was abducted from a street corner in Baghdad last week, has been released, according to an Iraqi official familiar with the situation, who spoke on Tuesday under the condition of anonymity.

The official confirmed that Kittleson was freed in the afternoon but did not disclose her current location, stating only that she had been held in Baghdad prior to her release.

The influential Iran-affiliated Iraqi militia, Kataib Hezbollah, announced earlier in the day that it had chosen to release Kittleson, who was taken hostage on March 31.

In its statement, the militia expressed that the decision to release her was made “in appreciation of the patriotic stances of the outgoing prime minister,” Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, without providing further details. They added that “this initiative will not be repeated in the future.”

Additionally, the militia stipulated that Kittleson must “leave the country immediately” following her release.

The U.S. State Department has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the matter.

Kataib Hezbollah had not previously acknowledged its involvement in Kittleson’s abduction, even though both U.S. and Iraqi officials had indicated the group’s responsibility.

Two militia officials, who also requested anonymity due to their lack of authorization to speak publicly, informed the Associated Press that Kittleson’s release was linked to the agreement for the release of several militia members who had been detained by Iraqi authorities.

Kittleson, 49, a freelance journalist, had spent many years living abroad, primarily based in Rome, while establishing a reputable journalism career in the Middle East, especially in Iraq and Syria. Like many freelancers, she often operated with limited resources and without the safeguards typically provided by major news organizations.

She had returned to Iraq shortly before her kidnapping. U.S. officials indicated that they had warned her multiple times about potential threats, but she chose not to leave.

Iraqi officials reported that two vehicles were involved in her abduction; one vehicle crashed during a pursuit near al-Haswa in Babil province, southwest of Baghdad, after which Kittleson was transferred to a second vehicle that escaped the scene.

Earlier on Tuesday, three Iraqi officials stated that efforts to negotiate her release faced significant challenges.

The two security officials and one member of the pro-Iran Coordination Framework political bloc spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case.

One security official revealed that a member of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-backed militias under the nominal control of the Iraqi military, was designated to communicate with the abductors to facilitate Kittleson’s release but encountered difficulties in reaching Kataib Hezbollah’s leadership.