Kidnappers free US journalist missing in Syria since 2012

DUBAI — Kidnappers in Syria have freed a US journalist missing since 2012, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday, following what Qatari-owned Al Jazeera said were efforts by the Gulf Arab state to win his release.

Kerry said in a statement announcing the release of Theo Curtis that the United States was using "every diplomatic, intelligence and military tool" at its disposal to secure the release of other Americans held hostage in Syria.

News of Curtis' release emerged just days after Islamic State militants this week killed American journalist James Foley, who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012.

A Qatari source told Reuters Curtis had been handed over to a representative of the United Nations in Syria.

"Qatari intelligence agencies were behind the release of the American journalist in Syria. Qatar, like many countries, looks to free those in captive for humanitarian reasons," the source added.

The Qatari source did not have details on what Qatar had done to free him, saying only that it had been a matter of "communication with the right people in Syria".

The release happened just days after the Islamic State militant group fighting in Iraq and Syria issued a video shown Foley's beheading.

That video, together with a threat to kill another American journalist being held hostage, Steven Sotloff, inspired widespread revulsion in the West and a desire to hunt down the killer.

The Qatari source said he did not know if Qatar was involved in seeking to free other journalists, but added that "any captives with [Islamic State] will be very difficult for Qatar to free, while others with different groups would be easier".

The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists estimates that about 20 journalists are missing in Syria. Many of them are believed to be held by Islamic State.

In a video statement released by Curtis' kidnappers at some point during his captivity, Curtis said he was a journalist from Boston, Massachusetts, Al Jazeera reported.

Commenting on his treatment in that video, Curtis said he "had everything" he needed and "everything has been perfect, food, clothing, even friends now".