Image Apparently of Missing Japanese Journalist Released Online

July 8, 2018

Jerusalem- What is believed to be an image of Junpei Yasuda, a 44-year-old Japanese journalist who went missing in Syria, appeared Friday on the Facebook page of a Syrian man.

The Syrian said the image is part of a video clip that he received from a proxy for the Islamist militant group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front. Yasuda is reportedly being held by the group.

The group apparently hopes to negotiate with the Japanese government and other parties for the possible release of Yasuda.

According to the Syrian man, the video was recorded in October last year.

In the 53-second video, a man claiming to be Yasuda speaks in English about his capture and current health, the Syrian man said.

The Syrian said Yasuda is not in a good physical condition.

Yasuda went missing after he entered northern Syria from southern Turkey in June 2015.

Still and video images of a man believed to be Yasuda were posted online in March and May 2016. Jiji Press