Four abducted French journalists freed in Syria

Four French journalists who were abducted in Syria were freed on Saturday, 10 months after their initial capture.

The four, Edouard Elias, Nicolas Henin, Pierre Torres and Didier Francois, were taken to the Turkish-Syrian border and let go, reports The New York Times. President Francois Hollande announced that all four were "in good health despite the grueling conditions of their captivity."

One of the free journalists, Francois spoke with a Turkish television channel and said, "We thank the Turkish authorities because they helped us a great deal."

According to The Associated Press, a DHA report said that the journalists were found blindfolded and handcuffed by patrolling soldiers in the Sanliurfa province.

Why they were freed now isn't known, but France claims it did not pay a ransom for the four.

Back in 2013 they were abducted, but not all at once. Though it isn't exactly known who held the four, it is believed they were grabbed by members of the militant Islamic State. A guide and translator, Hussam al-Ahmad, was with two of the four abducted and explained Henin and Torres were taken after asking to take photographs of several of the extremist fighters playing football.