Kidnapped US journalist freed in Syria

An American journalist kidnapped nearly two years ago has been freed in Syria following Qatari mediation and handed over to UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights. Al Jazeera reports Peter Theo Curtis was handed over to UN peacekeepers and has since been turned over to the US government. Curtis’ family thanked both the governments of the US and Qatar. According to a statement from his family, Curtis was captured in October 2012 and was reportedly held by the al-Nusra Front or by splinter groups allied with the al-Qaeda-affiliated group. Secretary of State John Kerry said he was relieved Curtis was returning home, before laying blame on al-Nusra Front for the kidnapping.

Read more on Al Jazeera.