Japanese freelance journalist Jumpei Yasuda has expressed happiness about returning to his country after more than three years of captivity in Syria, Reuters news agency reported from Turkey. "I am happy that I can return to Japan. At the same time, I don’t know what will happen from
Japanese freelance journalist Jumpei Yasuda has expressed happiness about returning to his country after more than three years of captivity in Syria, Reuters news agency reported from Turkey.
“I am happy that I can return to Japan. At the same time, I don’t know what will happen from here or what I should do,” he was quoted as saying. “I am thinking about what I need to do.”
Yasuda, 44, made the comments to Reuters Wednesday night local time on board a flight from the southern Turkish city of Antakya to Istanbul, from where he is expected to fly back to Japan on Thursday.
Japan confirmed Wednesday Yasuda had been released after more than three years of captivity in Syria and is now in Turkey, and will be coming home as soon as possible.
Yasuda entered Syria from Hatay in June 2015 to cover the civil war and then disappeared, apparently after being taken hostage by a militant group.
