NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and his crew believed they would not make it out of Syria alive during their five days of captivity, Engel said Thursday.
"There was no doubt that these were violent people and that they could have executed us at any time," Engel told NBC News' Savannah Guthrie in an interview Thursday night on "Rock Center."
Engel, 39, and his team disappeared shortly after crossing into northwest Syria from Turkey on Dec. 13. He and his team had already been captured as his last taped report from Aleppo was appearing on "NBC Nightly News" that evening.
The network had not been able to make contact with them until learning that they had been freed Monday. The final member of the team, Ian Rivers, who provides technical support for NBC News, crossed safely from Syria into Turkey early Wednesday.
The network said there was no claim of responsibility, no contact with the captors and no request for ransom during the time the crew was missing.
After entering Syria, Engel and his team were abducted and tossed into the back of a truck before being transported to an unknown location believed to be near the small town of Ma'arrat Misrin. During their captivity, they were blindfolded and bound but otherwise were not physically harmed, the network said.
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But their captors submitted them to what Engel called "psychological torture," leading them to believe that they were doomed. From time to time, "they were making us choose which one of us would be executed," he said.
Asked whether they ever thought they were going to die, all five men raised their hands. "Every day," Engel said.
Early Monday evening local time, the prisoners were being moved to a new location in a vehicle when their captors ran into a checkpoint manned by members of the Ahrar al-Sham brigade, a Syrian rebel group. There was a confrontation, and a firefight ensued. Two of the captors were killed, while an unknown number of others escaped, the network said.
Ghazi Balkiz, an NBC News producer, said that was the most nerve-racking time of all.
"I don't want to suffer to find out that this was not really happening," he said. "That would have been devastating."
Engel and his team were unharmed. Engel and several other members of the team remained in Syria until Tuesday morning when they made their way to the border and re-entered Turkey, the network said.
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What a wonderful gift for their families to have them home safely for the holidays. I imagine Mrs. Engel is anxious to have her husband find a different position other than Foreign Correspondent. He has had close calls before, but this really tipped the scales.
Agreed. I wouldn't blame Engel at all if wanted a new position at NBC after that. But if he wants to keep his job, more power to him. He's a great reporter and I hope he stays as NBCs Foreign Correspondent.
Seems like fake to me - just like those Iraq WMDs that this very reporter sold us.
He could have told his captors he was on a mission for Mr. Obama, then they would have treated him better.
Some of you people make me sick. This guy is one of the few in the mainstream media who doesn't do political BS. He's actually a journalist. You deserve the drivel you suck on for news, left or right.
But, but, but Barrack Hussein and Joe "Bite Me" Biden said Al Qaeda and terrorists are on the run. This can't be happening during the wonderful "Arab Sping".
I'm glad they're safe, but I wouldn't be risking it in the Middle East much more. Our government allowed 4 Americans to be murdered and refuses to admit it and confess who was to blame.
Jim Spence you are a complete moron, but fine, I'll agree to allow you to say that our government allowed 4 Americans to be murdered in Libya if you allow me to say that you rightists forced over 6,000 Americans to die in both Iraq and Afghanistan you bloodthirsty worthless POS.
You said it anyway Keith Brackett. The difference is a concervative won't call you ugly names while they present the facts. A liberal must call people ugly names because they have no facts to sound reputable with.
I'm so sick of the "blame." I blame him, I blame her, I blame it. What does that get you? A little gold blame star? I wish people would grow up and face facts. Stuff happens. Good, bad, otherwise. No (sane) one WANTS bad things to happen, but they do; and fingerpointing is so childish that it should be treated with the respect it deserves: NONE. GROW UP. Sitting around and blaming does nothing but cheapen the oh-so-important opinions of the arm-chair quarterbackers. (Can that be anymore insulting? I certainly hope not.)
Back to the article. I read it, but I am unclear as to WHO the captors were. Was it the Syrian army, a terrorist organization, the rebels? I think the rebels were the rescuers, but maybe there's more than one faction?
I'm glad the news crew made it out okay. I'm sure their experiences will be the stuff of nightmares for quite some time.
Funny how Obama has been in charge for 4 years but all the deaths in Iraq, and Afghanistan are still all is (0 deaths under obama?)
The lengths people go to get that all mighty "Pulitzer Prize"... Richard Engel has lived and reported from that part of the world for the better part of ten years. He put himself and his crew in danger when he crossed that border into Syria. He crossed that border illegally. Knowing full well what may and could happen to them. Regardless if he was reporting or not, there was and still is a media black-out. Why do people, Americans especially feel they have this priviledge to contradict a soverign countries laws, whether marshall or not? He is lucky he and his crew are not dead. THe fire-fight at the end of their ordeal may have been that moment. And the ironicy would be being shot by the rebels who are fighting for their freedom from this brutal dictator...
@ Sign-of the-Times... The only way a conservative can feel comfortable in their own skin is to create their own history. They have little or no facts to give. As stated earlier by PJ; WMD's? And this story is about a journalist who was captured crossing the border of Syria, "Illegally" I might add, from an allied country of the United States. Yay for him and his crew made it back. IMHO, if I were on his crew, granted they made a conscience decision to go into Syria, but if I were on his crew, the minute I left Syria, I would have beat that little @$&%^@%$ ass. What a simple-F**K!!! To place others in harms way for a news story.
Jim Spence, GWB allowed over 50 people at embassies get killed during his tenure, yet I'm sure you never said anything about that at all. Go suckle at the teat of Faux News where you can be in your happy place. Jerk.
jzgplj...
you're correct, and we hardly heard a word about it either because
the "houses' were both controlled by the repubs and they gave
GW anything he wanted....endless amounts of money to fund
bogus wars making the rich richer , the poor poorer
and above all they gave him ...silence! That's why you didn't hear about those deaths in the MSM.
You're joking right? There would only be one reason a "conservative" wouldn't use ugly names is because they couldn't spell it correctly. BTW, the only "facts" that conservatives present are those facts created by the likes of FOX Noise, Limbaugh, and Beck.
The right wingers, fascists, Obama haters, and other drooling "conservatives" have been driven over the edge by Obama's victory over their pathetic presidential candidate. They feel so frustrated and helpless, all they can do is get on these threads and scream and flail and mumble about Benghazi, Benghazi and don't forget...Benghazi!! They've got nothing constructive to add to any thread and absolutely no memory of the thousands and thousands of Americans who died as a result of the criminal incompetence of the Bush, Cheney administration. It's all just crap and bluster from the American ultra right. Yawn...
Bottom line:
The "conservatives" lost by a large margin, but find that they cannot move on. They are faced with four more years of Obama and eight of Hillary, but cannot come to grips with why they lost so badly.
An old drill sergeant once told me, "When you look around and eveyrone else is out of step, it is probably YOU that is out of step." Fifty years later I still consider it great advice. And actually very conservative.
"Funny how Obama has been in charge for 4 years but all the deaths in Iraq, and Afghanistan are still all is (0 deaths under obama?)"
0 deaths under Obama, WUT? What the hell fantasy world you living in? dum arse!
Because Richard Engel has told his story to the world about how he faked not speaking Arabic, I think he will have to be extremely careful as he will be a prime target to any and every terrorist organization. To -Richard Engel and NBC- ALthough Richard is the very best reporter in the world, please do not let Richard go back to a war zone. I fear that he will be in danger more so now than ever! Give this deserving man an anchor job!
I'll bet they were surprised! After all, per their directive - we elected a Nobel Peace Prize Winnah! Why do they still hate us?!, the cry AGAIN went throughout the land.
What?
Just another moron trying to claim its all Obama's fault and having a rather hard time doing it.
LOL!! TRUTH!
Gotta give the guy a little credit, at least he's not just copy and pasting the latest nonsense forwarded email he got this morning. :)
Ah, the village idiot has escaped his captors again....
You can bet your butt that a NBC crew would not have said that before the election. They would have praised the Syrians and the work Barry and Hillary are doing to bring a new world of love and roses to the middle east.NBC and their supposed reporters are nothing but administration shills.
Moron alert! Moron Alert!
calnomad......you need an attitude adjustment. Nobody is talking a "world of love and roses" for the middle east. Engel and crew can speak Arabic and they are reporting what is going on. I appreciate their courage to get out there and report. They are not shills for anyone.....your cynicism is regrettable.
Please read the CoH, for Newsvine, before posting on Newsvine again. You can read it HERE. You violated it in many ways.
This article is the perfect example of propaganda by the government/corporate interest media machine. The media campaign is to make money in Syria.
The reporter is spinning it and now profiting from it.
I am glad they are safe.
@!$%# that, if its a moron call it a moron, and that was a very justified alert.
Liberals must be talking here, they have no facts and they must call people names to sound important.
Tell us, calnomad, what YOU are doing to bring peace to the Middle East.
Nothing, you say? And how to about the rest of the world? Still nothing?
Well then, "Barry" and "Hillary" are light years ahead of you.
So STFU and have a Merry Christmas.
Again @ Sign-of-the-TImes... They are calling it as they see it dude/dudette... And NBC is a left-leaning news source, with plenty of moderate reporters. I for one watch CNN. And if I need the "FACTS" that so many conservatives have trouble finding due to the fact they create their own history, I dig for them. I teach my kids knowledge is power. Don't just sit back a take what someone gives you. Read and make your own opinions.
If you're so offended by what you read then slither back over to FOX and enjoy the news as they construct it. You're comments, if you think about it, show you are no better than those you call out. You assume, just because you are reading comments you disagree with, that they are a. either untrue or b. put forward by a Liberal. Did it ever occur to you that maybe even conservatives are sick and tired of the BS from their own party? Why is it that Obama won? Are you one of the 49% of the wizards on the right that believe that Acorn stole the election for him? Was it voter fraud? Wake up, you're on the wrong side of the argument and history. You gasbags on the right claim so many things except the obvious, that you're political ideology is trapped somewhere between 1861 and 1964 and has no place in our nation today. We're past the point where we discriminate against minorities, where your bloodline determines your status in our society, where wealth once achieved places you in a position of political and tax favor. Wake up, it's time to start losing the attitude that the majority of us are wrong and the minority of you are right.
We a pleased your ordeal is over.
I guess they were released because Barry appologized for us getting kidnapped.
SighnofTimes
Did he apologize with one of the 50 times as many bad guys in 4 years and Bush in 8? By sending in predator drones to carry out strikes on bad guys regardless of if another country cares to get rid of terrorists? Did he apologize to Pakistan for getting the man who caused 9/11 who Bush said we would move heaven and earth for and then later said he didnt matter? Did he apologize for doing it without a sovereign country that is technically an ally? Did GOP members apologize for not granting the $300 million the president asked for to help make embassies safer, which also seems forgotten as the Benghazzi incendent was not at an embassy which are guarded and much safer to be at then a consolute? But could have been made safer if he didnt apologize for asking the members in the GOP who denied it including the man who was running as VP? Did he apologize for making sure Gadaffi who was responsible for as much American blood on his hands then almost anyone in the world by making sure he not only doenst run a country or army but even breath?
Thats a lot of apologies I never heard for a lot of things to do to his so called"friends" you seem to think he is buddy buddy with. I wonder if he has oil and business partnerships with the Bin Laden family and got them all out of the country within 24 hours when no one could fly before the FBI could talk to them, wait that was W. Its also to bad we got that apology for there being no WMD in Iraq which Obama needed to finally end after watching more Americans die for a lost cause that was set up to happen before he was even elected. Where was the apology to al the dead and wounded military members from Bush who legitly deserve apologies since they were all hurt and killed after mission accomplished!. Easy to accomplish a mission that doesn't exist. hey guys no more MED, MISSION ACOMPLISHED!!!!!.
Now what apologies did Obama give again he should have compared to his predecessor who also give none however certainly had reason for so when the smarter new president came in e admitted that the previous 8 years was not how most Americans felt just sadly run by 2 war criminals and we would make sue that was done wth
Ken,
Unless you specify 'we' you probably shouldn't use it in a in an online comment post. I don't remember you being appointed to represent anyone.
I'll add my voice to Ken's, yes, I'm pleased. But I must say that the whole thing is an anti-climax. If we had known they were kidnapped, their return would have been a joyful relief to our fear for their safety; as it is, well, OK, glad you're back.
tw1sted,
Right on the Truth hurts the ignorate / racist uneducated right-winged / religious nut tea-bagging / closet homosexual gay bashing / money hungry / gun nut bag conservatives. You can't even reason with these people they would rather drive off the fiscal cliif than help there fellow man get a job. wWould rather see this black president go down in flames because he's smarter than most of them and threatens their whiteness. It's really said to see this going on in this day and age of our great nation president Obama is our president so show respect.
Great Reporting,,,, happy ending!
I have always admired Richard Engel and others like him who perform the important work of reporting from the most dangerous corners of the world. I am happy they are safe -- as is Lara Logan, for example, while Marie Colvin died doing such a public service. That they place themselves in jeopardy to do what they love is remarkable to me, as is the fact that, despite the terror they have experienced, they will no doubt continue to risk their lives behind the lines of battle. To all of them -- and all like them -- I offer thanks.
Engel has become at least as eminent a war correspondent as Ed Murrow and Ernie Pyle. If he wants to survive to write (doubtlessly fascinating) books about his many experiences, it might be time to retire from the front lines, and manage some of the newer faces. I'd hate to see him suffer the fate of Pyle - much rather he gets to continue his career in the mold of Ed Murrow and the others who survived to teach us all so many valuable lessons.
I agree! It's time for Richard to stay home.
Welcome!
Welcome and thanks for a job well done!
I'm so happy they made it back. Have a Happy Holiday.
"Wouldn't make it out alive". Hype to sell news. Of course, they believed they would, else they wouldn't have gone. Unless, that is, there's something seriously wrong with their thought processes. Which might explain the "de-evolution" of journalism from actual news reporting into the entertainment industry.
Hey numskull they didn't plan on being kidnapped by pro government rebels. That obviously changed their "getting out alive plans." Duh.
Just whom did they expect to be kidnapped by?
Did you say "pro government rebels", BP?
If they're rebels they're not pro government. And if they're pro government, well, they're not the rebels, right?
It's people with your dim mental capacity that these made up stories are aimed at. Engel never did reveal who his "captors" were. Let's see some independent verification that this "firefight" actually happened.
I think he's turning into Geraldo, a hype artist looking for publicity
A, the "didn't think they would make it out alive" was AFTER they were kidnapped. Most of the time, the press is not treated in that manner- being kidnapped and held.
And to the other posters- the captors were Syrians, more than likely loyal to Assad, which was why they ended up in a fire fight with rebels- who freed the NBC crew. Has nothing to do with our president, the Nobel Peace Prize or any of the other ridiculous statements I have read.
Where was the motive for the kidnapping? I guess they were released because Barry appologized for us getting kidnapped.
asign,
if your handle is correct then we are in a deep load of crap because so far your posts have been fairly moronic even for troll standards.
They were released because their captors, the Syrian Government military, got shot up and killed by the Anti-Government forces. If they had not accidentally driven to a rebel checkpoint Engle and the others would not have gotten away more than likely without first suffering some casualties.
In THIS article, no he did nt reveal his captors, but on the NBC interview in Tuesday he did, stating they were loyalists to Assad...he speaks their languages fluently and can understand what they are saying. So YES...he did state. in a TV interview te first day who the captors were.
The captors wanted to use them to trade for six of their own who were being held by the rebels. That is why no Ransom request was received, it was a hostage trade off they wanted.
All this info was from the first interviews by engel and team when they were released.
Oh, sign. We get you, k? You came to bash liberals. I'm sure no conservative ever bashes, calls names, or does anything that isn't perfect. Yeah, uh huh. Little bit of a blind eye, eh?;)
asign,
how many times are you posting the same comment? you might want to try something that makes sense.
These guys put themselves in harms way in crazy ass places all the time! How about using a brain for a miniute!
Do police officers & firefighters also need to "use a brain"? Come on!
I am a regular viewer of Richard Engle's Reporting and am happy to hear he made it back safe and sound.
That being said why is Engle allowed risk his and his crews life routinely to get a story?
And I am also bothered by the fact that in this case the news media that routinely with great arrogance disregard the safety and privacy of many had no trouble not reporting this story.
The news media routinely for instance goes to the homes of active duty police officers putting their address, families, cars on the news with no apparent concern what so ever for the officers safety when a cop is involved in any incident.
The news media also after promising to not ID people speaking on a condition of anonymity then does a poor job of covering their face and of concealing their ID.
Why all of a sudden did the media understand about personal safety and not report a story at all? Why not give the same consideration to others instead of going for the sensational as is the norm with the media today?
The news media had initially reported his missing on Gawker, however, the NBC team quickly requested that NO reporting be done on the team missing BECAUSE it gives the captors more leverage for demands and also if they were especially angered on americans, if they knew who the team were it puts them in further danger.
The news was DELIBERATELY kept quiet to protect Engels identity and wait for demands for their return.
I'm a journalist. We protect sources. You're mistaken. Entitled to an opinion, but it's not correct. Richard Engle is doing important work. Reporting from war is the highest calling a journalist can accept. Arm chairs are easy places to offer criticisms.
I am glad they are alive. I do feel if I was in their position, I may have a different outlook on every going into SYRIA AGAIN!
To Engle and crew! Enjoy your work! At the same time, I would say you've done enough for us and especially for NBC. Time for some different stories of a more boring nature!
Very glad that they are safe.
Just another MSDNBCBS liberal operative too stupid to know they dont you like either.
Without Richard Engel and others like him, the American people would not be getting the true story about what is happening in these war torn countries. There are fewer and fewer foreign correspondents, mainly because it is a dangerous job. Anyone who thinks that he is a shill for the government or that the abduction of Engel and his crew was fake or staged has been watching too much "reality" TV. I suggest they read some of Philip Caputo's books on his experiences as a foreign correspondent in Lebanon, Israel and Vietnam and then say a prayer for Richard Engel when he goes on his next assignment.
lucky, If you think Engel and NBC, in particular, are "journalists, I have some beachfront property in Kansas I'd like to sell you.
LOL...Just like Anderson Cooper and his fake attack that he got busted on.
Whom did they expect to be kidnapped by?
Actually, journalists fear for their lives in Israeli-occupied and controlled Palestinian territory when they try to report on Israel's attacks.
During its latest attack on Gaza after breaking the ceasefire by assassinating Ahmed al-Jaabari, the commander of the military wing of Hamas, who also was the negotiator with Israel for the release of the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Israel on Nov. 20 killed two Palestinian cameramen by targeting their car. Israel also bombed three buildings housing many of Gaza's local and international media offices. The Israeli military admitted that they knew the press used the buildings and the cameramen were in the car, but they targeted them anyway.
Human Rights Watch declared that the Israeli bombings were illegal attacks on the press under the laws of war.
It is not just in Syria that journalists like NBC's Richard Engel and crew are at risk for their lives.
Oh yeah, what ever follows that statement has to be the gospel truth.
You have to recognize,believe and understand what the Bible says and teaches about man to begin to quantify the influence of glorifying violence,even the violence of wars,in Media has upon man,man since Eden has a sinful nature,and Media glorifying violence which is of that sinful nature doesn't help man to control it,and of course it's not of God.
Is correct punctuation against your religion?
Al,
actually no. All you have to understand is the difference between reality and fantasy and then all you have to understand about violence is that more violence usually does not solve anything. There is a special exception in the case of dictators. Dictators will never give up their power without being assassinated (Gaddafi) or forced out through public uprising (Mubarak).
Religion has nothing to do with it. Morals come from logical realizations not from some unmeasurable force that may or may not exist.
An obviously morals play no part in our 21st century world it seems, because by your account we should all act logically, very good. You go with that, i'll take my rules and laws for living from my living God. Thank You!!
So happy you all are back safe, and hopefully soon, feeling secure. I'm sure your situation was a rough go, but look at it this way... The world didn't end. You all came out on the other side with a broader perspective that will color you future. Use that perspective as a guide for a better future.
Tough job; welcome back. Merry Christmas!
From a Navy mom whose sons deployment recently included returning to the coast of Syria: You're Americans and you knowingly put yourself in harms way. Are your friends and family going to demand that the United States military rescue your sorry asses the next time you are "captured"? You seriously need to rethink your choices. Public service? Let's try doing what you do on a sailors salary and then call it public service.
Excellent point.
I assume your son was drafted into the Navy??? Oh, that is right, there is not a draft. I guess he volunteered to be there just like the journalists.
Being the parent of a deployed service member does not give you the right to decide what's public service. Journalism is public service. It's not as high a calling as active duty, but it serves the world with a powerful weapon, information. Your cynicism is misplaced and unfortunate.