US-Kuwaiti journalist detained after sharing jet crash video

An American-Kuwaiti journalist has been held in Kuwait for several weeks and faces multiple charges, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

The press freedom group said that Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, who has contributed to major outlets including The New York Times, PBS, and Al Jazeera English, has not been seen publicly or posted online since March 2.

His detention comes amid a wider crackdown across Gulf countries, where hundreds of people have reportedly been arrested as authorities attempt to control the circulation of videos showing the impact of Iranian attacks, including damage and interception efforts.

In a statement, CPJ said that authorities had accused Shihab-Eldin of spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing his mobile phone, calling the charges “vague and overly broad accusations that are routinely used to silence independent journalists.”

It noted that one of his recent social media posts included a geolocated video, later verified by CNN, showing a US fighter jet crash near an American air base in Kuwait.

“We call on Kuwait to release Ahmed Shihab-Eldin and drop all charges against him,” said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah.