A US journalist who was kidnapped in Iraq said she's "incredibly grateful" to everyone who helped secure her freedom.

Shelly Kittleson thanked "so many people" who highlighted her case, including government officials, press freedom groups, journalists and friends.

She said on X they had put in "an immense amount of effort into ensuring that the level of attention to my case remained high".

"Thank you all so very, very much" Kittleson added.

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The freelance journalist was approached by two men and bundled into a car in central Baghdad on 31 March.

Iraqi officials said in the aftermath that one suspect had been arrested following a car chase and that "precise intelligence" and "intensive field operations" were being used to locate her.

Ms Kittleson was snatched by Kataib Hezbollah, a faction allied to Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah, but released a week later on condition she immediately left Iraq.

Officials from the group told Associated Press the Iraqi government had agreed to free several of its imprisoned members in exchange.

Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists were among those that urged secretary of state Marco Rubio to officially designate her a "hostage" and secure her "immediate, safe release".

Image: Shelly Kittleson was freed a week after being abducted. Pic: X

Ms Kittleson had reportedly been told before her kidnap that she was on a Kataib Hezbollah list of female journalists it wanted to kill or capture.

The US state department strongly advises its citizens against travel to Iraq due to factors such as "terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest".

The 49-year-old's X profile says she is an award-winning journalist who has reported from the Middle East and Afghanistan for the likes of Politico and the BBC.

Mr Rubio said Ms Kittleson's swift release showed a "steadfast commitment" to ensure the safety and security of Americans wherever they may be.