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Syria Releases American Citizen Syria Releases American Citizen
(32 minutes later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — An American who was held captive in Syria for two months has been reunited with his family, his family said on Friday.BEIRUT, Lebanon — An American who was held captive in Syria for two months has been reunited with his family, his family said on Friday.
There was almost no information available on Friday about how the American, Sam Goodwin, 30, came to be in Syria or how he was detained. His family said in a brief statement that Abbas Ibrahim, the head of Lebanese internal security, had helped mediate his release.There was almost no information available on Friday about how the American, Sam Goodwin, 30, came to be in Syria or how he was detained. His family said in a brief statement that Abbas Ibrahim, the head of Lebanese internal security, had helped mediate his release.
“We are grateful to be reunited with our son Sam,” Mr. Goodwin’s parents, Thomas and Ann Goodwin, said in a statement. “Sam is healthy and with his family.”“We are grateful to be reunited with our son Sam,” Mr. Goodwin’s parents, Thomas and Ann Goodwin, said in a statement. “Sam is healthy and with his family.”
They thanked Mr. Ibrahim, but declined to offer further details.They thanked Mr. Ibrahim, but declined to offer further details.
Mr. Goodwin had been held in Syria for about two months, according to a person familiar with the details. The Lebanese general security directorate did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Mr. Goodwin had been held in Syria for about two months, according to a person familiar with the details. The Lebanese general security directorate did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
There are a handful of Americans who are being held in Syria, but most of their families have kept quiet about their status while they attempt to negotiate their release, making it difficult to track how many there are. Before Friday, Mr. Goodwin was not publicly known to be among them. A handful of Americans are being held in Syria, but most of their families have kept quiet about their status while they attempt to negotiate their release, making it difficult to track how many there are. Before Friday, Mr. Goodwin was not publicly known to be among them.
The best-known exception is Austin Tice, a freelance journalist and Marine veteran who had gone to Syria to cover the impact of the civil war on ordinary Syrians. A few days before he was due to leave the country in August 2012, he was detained at a checkpoint outside Damascus. He remains missing.The best-known exception is Austin Tice, a freelance journalist and Marine veteran who had gone to Syria to cover the impact of the civil war on ordinary Syrians. A few days before he was due to leave the country in August 2012, he was detained at a checkpoint outside Damascus. He remains missing.
Another is a clinical psychologist with dual American and Syrian citizenship, Majd Kamalmaz, who his family has said disappeared in Syria while on a trip to see relatives in Damascus in February 2017. He is believed to have been detained at a government checkpoint.Another is a clinical psychologist with dual American and Syrian citizenship, Majd Kamalmaz, who his family has said disappeared in Syria while on a trip to see relatives in Damascus in February 2017. He is believed to have been detained at a government checkpoint.
Both sets of parents have pleaded for President Trump to intervene; Mr. Trump has made a point of securing the release of American hostages around the world, including from Egypt and North Korea. But the United States has had no diplomatic relations with Syria since soon after the eruption of the country’s civil war, and must work through the Czech Republic’s ambassador in Damascus, who acts as a semiofficial diplomatic channel.Both sets of parents have pleaded for President Trump to intervene; Mr. Trump has made a point of securing the release of American hostages around the world, including from Egypt and North Korea. But the United States has had no diplomatic relations with Syria since soon after the eruption of the country’s civil war, and must work through the Czech Republic’s ambassador in Damascus, who acts as a semiofficial diplomatic channel.
The Syrian civil war, now in its eighth year, has killed at least half a million people and forced about 11 million more to flee their homes.The Syrian civil war, now in its eighth year, has killed at least half a million people and forced about 11 million more to flee their homes.