Days after ISIS militants released footage of their gruesome beheading of American photojournalist James Wright Foley, Al Jazeera reports Peter Theo Curtis, a US journalist kidnapped in Syria in 2012, has been released to the UN.

According to Al Jazeera, Peter Theo Curtis was abducted in October 2012 from the Turkish town of Antakya, where he planned to enter Syria to teach English. Curtis was reportedly freed and handed over to UN representatives on Sunday after Qatari mediation aided in his release.

From Al Jazeera:

Footage of the the American was released on June 30, showing a disheveled Curtis with long hair and beard, but appearing to be in good health.

Speaking in a video obtained by Al Jazeera, Curtis read from a prepared script stating his name and profession, saying he was a journalist from Boston, Massachusetts.

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

Update 4:17 p.m. The AP reports White House national security adviser Susan Rice confirmed that Curtis is currently safe outside of Syria. He was held by an Al Qaeda-connected militant group.

[image via Al Jazeera]