UPDATE - Missing Japanese reporter in Syria brought to Turkey

By Lale Koklu

UPDATES WITH DETAILS; ADDS QUOTES BY GOVERNOR

HATAY, Turkey (AA) - A Turkish local official identified Wednesday an individual who has been brought to Turkey from Syria as Jumpei Yasuda, a Japanese journalist who went missing in Syria in 2015.

Hatay Governor Erdal Ata said Yasuda was brought to the country on Tuesday by Turkish security and intelligence teams upon consultations with Japanese authorities.

The journalist was not holding an ID when brought, Ata added.

No military operation was conducted to rescue the reporter, the governor said in response to a question, adding, the reporter was rescued by successful efforts of security and intelligence units.

Yasuda -- who is at Provincial Directorate of Migration Management now -- will be handed over Japanese authorities after official procedures.

Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the phone for the country’s efforts to rescue the reporter.