Japanese Journalist Junpei Yasuda was released 3 years after kidnapped in Syria
Freelance journalist Junpei Yasuda, who was kidnapped soon after traveling to conflict-ridden Syria in 2015, was confirmed to have been released, Foreign Minister Taro Kono said Wednesday.
Yasuda, 44, is said to have been held by Islamic extremist group Levant Liberation Organization (formerly the Nusra Front) since June 2015.
Junpei Yasuda (center of image with camera), this photo was taken 4 April 2004 in front of Plestine hotel Bagdad Iraq before first kidnapped in Fallujah. He cover demonstration of Muqutada al-Sadar (Iraqi Shia cleric poilitiocain and militia leader) supporters. (Photo by Hitoshi Katanoda/AFLO)