Authorities in Baghdad continued searching Thursday for missing American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who U.S. and Iraqi officials say was abducted earlier this week.

Kittleson, a 49-year-old freelance reporter from Wisconsin, was reportedly kidnapped in broad daylight on Tuesday, according to Iraq’s Interior Ministry.

Colleagues say she was an experienced and cautious journalist with deep knowledge of the region. Kiran Nazish, director of the Coalition for Women in Journalism, described Kittleson as highly skilled and vigilant, noting her strong network of trusted contacts across Iraq.

Nazish suggested Kittleson may have been targeted in part because of her nationality and visibility as one of the few journalists regularly reporting from the area.

“She was very careful and well-connected,” Nazish said, adding that Kittleson typically relied on local networks to ensure her safety while reporting.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of journalists operating in Iraq, where security risks remain high despite ongoing stabilization efforts. Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to locate her and determine who is responsible for the abduction.