The Seattle-area family of a US citizen released from captivity by the Syrian government said they were grateful for efforts by the US government over the past three years to secure his freedom.
The exact whereabouts of freelance photographer Kevin Patrick Dawes remains unclear, but his family said in a statement on Saturday that they that they are thrilled to be welcoming him home.
“We are incredibly grateful for the tireless efforts of the US government over the last three years and the involvement of the Czech and Russian governments in securing Kevin’s release,” said the statement by Randy Dawes, who identified himself as Kevin’s father.
The US Department of State on Friday last week said that the Syrian government had released the 33-year-old to authorities from Russia, which has been backing the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a civil war that is in its sixth year.
Dawes, who lived in San Diego, was detained in 2012 in Syria, US officials said.
Family members in Renton, Washington, asked for people to respect their privacy.
“Our thoughts are with the families who have loved ones missing overseas and pray for their safe release,” the statement said.
The US continues to work through Czech officials in Syria to get information on the welfare and whereabouts of Austin Tice and other US citizens missing and detained in Syria, US Department of State spokesman John Kirby said.
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