Priest Kidnapped by Syrian Jihadists Freed

A Franciscan priest kidnapped over the weekend by al-Qaeda-linked rebels from a Syrian village near Turkey has been freed.

"Father Hanna Jallouf has been released this morning... he is under house arrest at the convent of Qunyeh," the Franciscan order said in a statement.

Catholic officials in Syria and Israel confirmed the abduction, according to Reuters news agency.

The Islamic Nusra Front, a rebel group affiliated with al Qaeda, took the priest from the Christian village of Knayeh on Oct. 5.

Twenty other believers, including young boys and girls, were also taken and there's been no word of them since.

Islamic fighters in Syria are targeting Christians and other religious minorities.