Turkish Hostages Freed by Islamic State

Forty-nine Turkish hostages seized by Islamic State militants were freed on Saturday in what the Turkish media describes as “a pre-planned covert operation by Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT).” (Today’s Zaman, 20 September)

The hostages were captured from the Turkish Consulate in Mosul on 11 June, when ISIL overran the city in its surge to seize large swaths of Iraq and Syria.

The circumstances surrounding the release of hostages were not entirely clear. The Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the intelligence agency’s operation was not a special forces-type operation, but the hostages were freed through the agency’s “own methods.” Turkey’s state-run news agency, Anadolu Agency, reported no ransom had been paid. (AP, 20 September)

The hostages were handed to Turkish officials in early hours of Saturday, and were flown to Ankara’s airport. The families of the freed hostages waiting at the airport for their arrival, broke through security lines and rushed toward the plane to greet their loved ones.

Turkish Consul General in Mosul, Ozturk Yilmaz, was among the freed hostages and thanked official involved in his release, adding he had not seen his family for 102 days, and all he wanted was to go home with them.

Photo Credit: Turkey's Consul-General in Mosul Yılmaz Öztürk (L) waves hand to a crowd as Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and his wife, Sare, greet other freed hostages. (Mustafa Kirazlı/ Today's Zaman)

Rigi terror convict arrest documentary (Persian)

New documentary aired this week on Iranian television, on the background and arrest of Jundallah leader Rigi. Rigi was arrested, convicted of terrorism and executed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

Interesting timing for the release of this documentary, following closely the abduction of five NAJA border protection guards on the Pakistan border in Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan province. A number of photos and forged documents found in possession of Rigi were also published in Iranian media.

Earlier this week, also, IRI Security Deputy to the Interior Minister Ali Abdollahi claimed the five NAJA border protection guards are known to be safe and that Iran expects Pakistan “to fulfill its security commitments” in securing the guards' safe release from their Jaish al-Adl captors.

Video: FARS News Agency

Iran Takes on Hollywood!

Planning a Movie Response to 'Argo' - Telling 'Other Side' of Hostage Taking

Iran plans to produce its own hostage-release movie in response to Argo, the Oscar-nominated film about the 1980 CIA operations to free six U.S. embassy staff hiding at the Canadian ambassador’s residence after the Iranians took over the U.S. embassy and held diplomats hostage. 

The Iranian movie is entitled ‘The General Staff’ about 20 female and African-American hostages released by Iran in the early days of hostage taking and aims at telling the 'good' side of hostage taking. (Mehr News Agency, 10 January)

Photo credit: Director Ben Affleck on the set of the motion picture 'Argo.'  (Keith Bernstein/Warner Bros. Pictures/USA Today)

Iranian Hostages in Syria Freed in Prisoner Swap

Forty-eight Iranians held hostage by Syrian opposition fighters since August were freed today as part of a prisoner exchange deal that also freed 2,130 prisoners held by the Syrian government. The Iranian embassy in Damascus confirmed the release of the 48 Iranians.

The prisoner swap was arranged by a Turkish charity. The Syrian opposition had announced that the 48 kidnapped Iranians were current and former members of the IRGC. The 2,130 prisoners freed by the Syrian government included many Syrian opposition fighters.

Top photos: Iranians released by Syrian rebels arrive at a hotel in Damascus. 9 January 2013. (REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri)

An image grab taken from Al Arabiya TV on 5 August shows Iranians kidnapped in Damascus. 

Retired IRGC Officers Among Hostages in Damascus – Iran FM

The Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told reporters today that some of the 48 kidnapped Iranians in Syria are "retired IRGC and military officers.” Saheli added that these retired officers were in Damascus on pilgrimage. The Free Army of Syria had previously claimed that there were IRGC officers among the 48 detainees. Iran had denied that charge.

Three Iranian Hostages Killed During Air Raid on Detention Place

The Free Army of Syria, the main opposition group, said three Iranian hostages were killed on Monday during what they said to be an air attack by government forces on a house they were being kept. The rebels threatened to kill the remaining Iranians in their custody unless the army stopped its attack.

"They were killed when the aircraft attacked. One of the houses they were in collapsed over their heads," FAS spokesman Moutassam al-Ahmad said. "We will kill the rest if the army does not stop its assault.” (Reuters)

Ahmad said that a number of rebels were also killed in the attack. "Our losses are bigger than theirs."

Fighters from the al-Baraa brigade of the rebel Free Army of Syria kidnapped 48 Iranians on Saturday on suspicion of being military personnel, but Iran says they are pilgrims.

Iran Asks Turkey and Qatar for Help with Its Hostage Situation

Rebels Claim IRGC Officers Among Hostages

Iran has asked Turkey and Qatar to help secure the release of 48 Iranians seized in the Syrian capital by rebels. IRNA reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Salehi has called his Turkish and Qatari counterparts Ahmet Davutoglu and Sheikh Hamad on Sunday.

But the rebels said today the 48 hostages were not pilgrims as reported by the Iranian and Syrian media. A spokesman for the Free Army of Syrian (FAS) said among the detainees were some IRGC officers and a number of “street tugs” sent to support the Assad regime. 

Al-Arabyia TV today broadcast a video released by the Free Army of Syria (FAS) showing the hostages sitting in front of a rebel Syrian flag with a FAS officer, identified as Captain Abdel Nasser al-Shumair, commander of the al-Baraa brigade of the Free Syrian Army, present.

“Negotiations with parties inside or outside Syria are not open yet before we confirm the identity of the Iranians and prove that Iran is active on Syrian lands with its soldiers and arms,” said Captain al-Shumair.

UPDATE: the Iranian government has denied claims by the Free Army of Syria (FAS) that some of the hostages are IRGC officers. FAS also announced that they have confiscated IRGC-issued documents and maps from some of the hostages that show they were on a reconnaissance mission in Damascus.  

Photo Credit: From an Al-Arabyia video released by the Free Army of Syrian reportedly showing Iranian hostages in their captivity. FAS Captain al-Shumair is standing. 5 August 2012