Journalist With North Andover Ties Kidnapped in Syria

An American journalist with family in North Andover is missing in Syria, according to the Boston-based Global Post. Foley has written extensively for Global Post in Syria, Afghanistan and Libya.

James Foley, 39, was reportedly kidnapped in northwest Syria by gunmen on Thanksgiving.

There is still no information on who may have kidnapped Foley.

Foley's family, including his brother Michael Foley of North Andover, has set up a Web site dedicated to keeping people aware and updated about James' situation.

Syria has been a hotbed of violence since conflict between the Syrian regime and rebels escalated over the past 19 months. And in the past 6 months, kidnappings in that country have risen dramatically. In December, NBC New correspondent Richard Engel and his crew were captured and later freed after a shootout at a checkpoint.

Foley is believed to have been kidnapped in Idlib Province, which has been a region of heavy fighting between rebels and the government, according to Salon.

In recent months, Syria was designated one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists by the Committee to Protect Journalists.