Captured US Journalist Released from Syria Captivity

American journalist Theo Curtis has been released after being held captive by al-Nusra militants in Syria since 2012, the US has announced.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said he was “relieved and grateful that Theo is coming home”.
He added that the US had worked with more than two dozen countries to help secure his release.

Last week, another kidnapped US journalist, James Foley was killed by the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.

IS published a video of the moments before and after the beheading of Mr Foley, 40, who was seized in 2012. UK secret services are ireportedly close to identifying a suspected British jihadist from the footage of the killing.

‘Unspeakable tragedy’

On Sunday, Mr Kerry welcomed the news of Mr Curtis’ release “particularly after a week marked by unspeakable tragedy”
.
“Over these last two years, the United States reached out to more than two dozen countries asking for urgent help from anyone who might have tools, influence, or leverage to help secure Theo’s release and the release of any Americans held hostage in Syria,” he said.

Mr Curtis, from the state of Massachusetts, was reportedly abducted in Turkey on his way to Syria.
The United Nations confirmed that it had facilitated his release.

It said the journalist was handed over to UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights. After an initial health check, he was then transferred to US government representatives.

BBC