Two Spanish journalists freed in Syria

By: 10 years ago

BEIRUT, Lebanon—A Spanish newspaper says that two Spanish journalists have been freed after six months captivity in Syria by a rogue Al-Qaeda group.

The newspaper El Mundo said Sunday that reporter Javier Espinosa and photographer Ricardo Garcia Vilanova crossed into Turkey overnight, but provided no further details. They were expected to arrive in Spain Sunday.

The two were detained by the breakaway Al-Qaeda group, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant in September, in the eastern province of Raqqa, where the militants dominate.

Syria is the most dangerous conflict in the world for reporters, partially because of the risk of kidnapping by rebels or pro-government forces.

With the release of Espinosa and Vilanova, there are at least another nine foreign correspondents missing in Syria, and 10 Syrian reporters.