⁠Iraqi armed group ⁠Kataib Hezbollah, which is aligned with Iran, said on Tuesday it would release abducted US journalist Shelly Kittleson, adding that she must leave Iraq immediately.

Kittleson ‌was abducted in late March in Baghdad.

Middle East news site Al-Monitor said Kittleson was a US freelance journalist based in Rome who had covered several wars in the region and had contributed articles to ⁠the outlet.

A video purporting to show Kittleson was shared ‌by a social media outlet close to Kataib Hezbollah on Tuesday.

The corner on Baghdad’s Saadoun Street where Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped is seen on April 1. Photo: APThe corner on Baghdad’s Saadoun Street where Shelly Kittleson was kidnapped is seen on April 1. Photo: AP

Reuters could not independently ‌verify the authenticity of the video, which if confirmed ⁠would be ⁠the first images of Kittleson published since her kidnapping.