British Columbia Man Detained in Syria Is Freed in Beirut

British Columbia Man Detained in Syria Is Freed in Beirut
Canadian citizen, Kristian Lee Baxter, who was being held in Syria, reacts during a news conference, after being released, in Beirut, Lebanon August 9, 2019. Mohamed Azakir/Reuters
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BEIRUT—A Canadian citizen held by the Syrian government since last year was released in Lebanon on Friday and broke down in tears at a news conference, saying he thought he would be held forever.

“I didn’t know if anyone knew if I was alive,” said Kristian Lee Baxter, struggling to speak as he choked back tears while sitting alongside Canada’s ambassador to Lebanon and the Lebanese security chief in Beirut.