The American journalist Peter Theo Curtis, who was held captive for nearly two years in Syria by an al Qaeda affiliate, al Nusra, was released on Sunday, Aug.24.
Curtis was nabbed near the Syria-Turkey border in 2012 and was held by the Nusra Front.
White House officials confirmed that Curtis was released to a representative of the United Nations.
“We are all relieved and grateful knowing that Theo Curtis is coming home after so much time held in the clutches of [the Nusra Front],” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement released to the public.
Al Jazeera reported that Qatari officials helped mediate the release of the American journalist. Al Jazeera is owned by the Qatari government.
In a June 30 statement made by Curtis, he said he was a journalist from Boston. He also claimed to be well taken care of.