Syrian hostages who escaped Islamic State receive rapturous homecoming

AL-QARYATAYN, Syria - Twenty six Syrian hostages who escaped from their Islamic State captors received an emotional homecoming on Sunday in the central province of Homs, witnesses and officials said.

They were among at least 70 people abducted and taken by fleeing Islamic State militants to a secret location in the desert east of the town of al-Qaryatayn on Oct 21 when the Syrian Army and pro-government militias regained control of the town.

The others are still missing, according to local officials, who have not disclosed the identities of any of the hostages.