Kidnap, ransom, propaganda: Why journalists have become weapons in modern warfare

For those aware of the militia landscape in Iraq, this incident carries a chillingly familiar modus operandi, drawing eerie similarities with the March 2023 disappearance of the Israeli-Russian researcher and academic, Elizabeth Tsurkov. Tsurkov was held hosage for over two years by Kata'ib  Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-aligned paramilitary group that operates widely in Iraq.

Kittleson’s abduction is not an isolated misfortune; it is a symptom of a broader, more aggressive posture taken by regional actors as the wider conflict intensifies.The threat levels have indeed increased for journalists working in the regions where hostile groups will be looking to target those they deem to be from countries supporting the conflict against the Iranian regime.

Regions of Risks:

Journalists and news teams can be courageous- especially those who head to front-line environments for the sake of getting that crucial news story. Often, they enter into hostile environments, fully aware that many in their profession have been kidnapped, targeted by hostile foreign states and even lost lives.

In 2022, American photo journalist Brent Renaud was killed by Russian forces, when covering the conflict in Ukraine. Then, two members of a Fox News media team- Pierre Zakrzewski and Oleksandra Kuvshinova were killed when their vehicle came under fire, not far from Kyviv, that same year. Benjamin Hall, the senior correspondent with them survived but was badly injured. Now, he lives with prosthetic limbs; yet maintains strong resolve.

These tragic incidents took place in war zones, but journalists and news teams can be exposed to threats across environments, even in those where risks may seem more manageable. Through my work in personal safety, I've sometimes consulted journalists and media figures who encountered potentially life threatening scenarios, in ostensibly stable environments, or in foreign capitals- riddled by crime. My work involves training these professionals to hone their movement skills, maintain a mindset of elusiveness, and critically- to recognise the subtle "tells" of a trap before it's sprung.

Predatory Risk:

For female journalists, the risk profile carries a specific, darker complexity. Beyond the macro-threats of state surveillance or kinetic war zone activity, women in the field often face predatory crimes that target them specifically. These threats can emanate from local street gangs, deceptive third parties, or individuals probing for vulnerable moments in which to take advantage. Then, there are those in positions of authority who leverage their power to intimidate foreign correspondents.

In my advisory capacity, because of the stark realities of work in volatile foreign environments, I emphasise survival protocols that can be internalised so that they become an integrated part of the person's demeanour and state. Our training focuses on advancedthreat recognition and situational awareness, with a heavy focus on blending in, low-profile transit and direct physical disengagement tactics.

The consequences of a security breach for women in this region can be catastrophic. Those abducted by hostile paramilitary groups or extremist cells are often subjected to captivity in squalid conditions. These environments are designed to dehumanise; captives face aggressive interrogation, physical brutality, and sexual assault.

We need only look at the harrowing case of the Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhout.  Her abduction in Somalia, in 2008, remains a definitive, sobering case study in the psychological and physical endurance required to survive such an ordeal. Held for 15 months, Lindhout endured systematic abuse at the hands of her captors. Despite what she went through, she has continued to do humanitarian work and her book- A House in the Sky: A Memoir -written with Sara Corbett, draws light on her hostage experience and the survival mechanisms she used to persevere.

The Calculus of Targeting:

The threats facing a journalist are rarely uniform; they are dictated by a shifting matrix of factors, including background, nationality, and the specific "value" a reporter represents to a hostile actor. In the current Middle Eastern theatre, the abduction of a Western journalist often serves a dual purpose. For paramilitary groups, it provides immediate "benefits to the cause", along with financial gain through ransom, political leverage in negotiations, and a chance to fuel their propaganda machine.However, where we see direct, unmitigated violence unleashed upon the press, the motivation is often more visceral. In these instances, the hostile party- whether driven by political, cultural, or religious extremism, views the journalist not as a witness, but as a representative for an "adversarial" culture. Here, the act of violence is a means to vent a deep-seated rage against the values the victim is perceived to represent.Yet, we must also look at the more clinical threats emanating from the State itself. As hostilities escalate, governments increasingly view independent reporting as a direct threat to national security or "narrative control". Journalists have the ability to "shed light" on what's really going on within a region. This can be a double-edged sword. While essential for global transparency, it inevitably places them under the microscope of local law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

In today's environment, your digital footprint is as much a liability as your physical location. We are increasingly seeing state sponsored digital infiltration, where the phones of detained journalists- including teams from major Western networks can get compromised to map out their sources and movements. When the state feels threatened by exposure, the journalist becomes a target of the intelligence apparatus.

There is, however, another dimension to this threat. In regions where state control is absolute, the very act of gathering information- the lifeblood of journalism- is often viewed through a prism of intense suspicion. Hostile regimes frequently track media professionals under the assumption that they are clandestine operatives or, at the very least, working in tandem with external intelligence agencies.

A reporter's grey book of intricate sources represent a gold mine for official security organisations or paramilitary groups. Journalists are viewed as a natural part of the intelligence eco-system. Consequently, journalists are frequently targeted. Sometimes through low-key deceptive approaches; other times with overt intensity- as a means of extracting Human Intelligence (HUMINT) or mapping out dissident networks.

For those heading into these volatile theatres, the traditional "press" vest is no longer sufficient. It's now a professional imperative that teams undergo comprehensive Hostile Environment Training (HEAT). These courses are designed to prepare reporters for the specific demands of 2026 warfare- from drone-strike protocols to the psychological rigours of  Conduct after Capture scenarios.

Even more valuable, however, is the integration of specialised Media Safety Advisers (MSAs). Having an embedded expert to manage the security without hindering the news gathering objective, allows news teams to focus on "the story", whilst still keeping their wits about them.

Professionalism in the Kinetic Era:

Throughout my years working in both visceral and ethereal security realms, I've cultivated a network of seasoned professionals, but when the conversation turns to media safety, the first name I provide is Ken Perry, the founder of Cosain Consultancy. A veteran of the  The Parachute Regiment (1 Para/ SFSG) Ken brings a level of "boots on the ground" credibility to this field. His portfolio reads like a map of modern conflict, working with news teams from CNN, Sky News, NBC and others- helping them to keep safe across high-risk theatres, such as the Middle East, Africa, and Ukraine.

Beyond active protection, Ken is a prolific educator, delivering specialised training courses for those aspiring to work as  asMedia Safety Advisers (MSAs)- the professionals tasked with supporting journalists in both hostile environments and increasingly volatile domestic terrain.

The former Para, with intensity in his voice, candidly acknowledges that since the outbreak of the Iran-Israel conflict on February 28, the threat level for journalists -particularly those from nations perceived as adversarial to the regime has surged.

The intel filtering through the security network is deeply concerning. There are credible reports of hostile state-aligned groups offering financial bounties to local street gangs and criminal proxies to "spot and grab" American nationals. This is not mere rhetoric; it's a calculated attempt to outsource the kidnapping of Westerners to third-party criminal elements. Proxies provide the regime with both leverage and plausible deniability.

This state of high alert is not limited to the press. We are seeing a parallel spike in threats directed at US multi-national firms and academic institutions as regional actors look for symbolic targets to pressure the West. For this reason, along with Cosain, many  risk intelligence groups are maintaining this "ears to the ground" alertness to anticipate impulsive or planned targeting actions by Iran.

Adapting to the Threat:

Ken Perry has persistently advocated  to make sure standards are raised in the security industry so that new teams are provided with the needed level of service to adapt to the complexities of a fickle, fast changing landscape.  For any news team deploying into this environment, having an experienced Media Safety Adviser who understands the nuances of this asymmetric threat is vital.

Perry's next objective with Cosain Consultancy is to share his operational expertise in the USA's vast media sector, with companies looking to provide protective services to news teams based  there. In the US, security at both corporate and media level is taken seriously and as American news cycles pivot back toward the Persian Gulf and its surrounding volatility, the demand for sophisticated protective services is surging.

However, Perry is quick to identify a critical vulnerability in the reporting domain: the unaffiliated freelancer. It's the lone freelance journalists who are especially vulnerable to many of the threats out there. While major networks invest heavily in security overheads, the "lone" journalist is often operating on a shoestring budget. He highlights a sad reality: many freelancers, restricted by funds may forgo essential hostile environment training. Some might not even be fully aware of the risks posed to reporters in specific regions.

Without the institutional "duty of care" blanket of a major station, these individuals lack the integrated security support, real-time intelligence feeds, and physical protection that their corporate counterparts are provided.

Cosain Consultancy has tried to provide further support to freelance journalists, offering free or reduced rate training and there are various resources, providing advice and updates on regional developments.

The Committee to Protect Journalists is a non profit organisation that defends the rights of journalists to report the news safely. It's website also raises further awareness of the dangers journalists are exposed to.

The Infrastructure of Survival- Private Intelligence

In an environment where security parameters shift by the hour, another valuable protective layer is often found in the hands of specialised private intelligence firms. Based in London,Alma is one such global risk management company that's been providing situational reports on the Middle East crisis and high level risk advisory to organisations with in-theatre employees and families in the surrounding region.

Beyond intelligence, firms like Alma are managing the increasingly fraught logistics of "strategic transit." As the US State Department issues urgent directives for its citizens to vacate Iraq - this is a clear warning of a security environment that could paralyse air travel without notice. These teams are the ones coordinating the extraction and operational support for those caught in the crossfire. They are providing travel management and time sensitive operational support to companies and private individuals needing to enter or exit from the region.

Those Who Dedicate Their Lives to Truth...

Yet, even as the window for safe passage narrows, the siren call of a world-changing story continues to draw journalists toward the friction hubs.

As I write this piece, the global media now focuses on award-winning American journalist Shelly Kittleson who remains captive in Iraq. Abducted in the heart of Baghdad, Kittleson’s ordeal is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the independent voice. We can only hope that the recovery operations currently underway are thorough and persistent. The psychological toll on a captive and the immense strain on their family is a weight that no journalist should have to bare but it does remain a bitter reality.We are now operating in an age of hybrid warfare involving state-sponsored disinformation and the deliberate de-stabilization of facts. In this climate, the value of a journalist willing to bear witness cannot be overstated. They are a defence against the erasure of truth. We must ensure that those brave enough 'to go in' are given every possible tool to get the story and, more importantly... get back home.

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Aran Dharmeratnam works in private investigations and risk intelligence. He is also the founder of Tri Tier, which equips executives, families, organisations and high profile figures with hybrid self-protection training.

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