An American journalist held hostage in Syria for almost two years has thanked the hundreds of "brave and determined people" who helped secure his release.
In his first public remarks since touching down in the US, Peter Theo Curtis said: "I had no idea when I was in prison that so much effort was being expended on my behalf.
"Now that I have found out I am just overwhelmed with emotion."
Mr Curtis, 45, was reunited with his mother Nancy after landing back on home soil on Tuesday.
Nancy Curtis was pictured with her son on his return. Pic: Curtis Family The journalist, originally from Boston, was released by al Qaeda's official wing in Syria, al Nusra Front, two days earlier after 22 months in captivity.
His voice trembling at times, Mr Curtis told reporters he was also overwhelmed that total strangers had been coming up to him and saying "we are glad you are home, welcome home, I'm glad you are back, glad you are safe."
"To all those people I say a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart," he said.
Shortly after being reunited with her son, Nancy Curtis told reporters he was "so excited to be home".
Peter Theo Curtis was captured by al-Nusra Front in 2012 She said while she was "overwhelmed with relief", his arrival home was a "sober occasion", given recent events in Syria.
Mr Curtis' release came days after the execution of fellow journalist James Foley who was captured by al Nusra's rivals, the militant group Islamic State (IS), in 2012.
IS posted a video showing the beheading of Mr Foley, which they said was in retaliation for US airstrikes on IS positions in northern Iraq.
Journalist James Foley was killed by a rival extremist group last week The group also threatened to kill another American journalist in their captivity, Stephen Sotloff.
"My heart goes out to the other families who are suffering," Diane Curtis said, adding that she had written to Mr Foley's mother Diane.
"We've been through so much together, and I didn't want her to hear it from the media first," she told ABC's Good Morning America programme.
Fears had risen for Mr Curtis over the last month after the FBI revealed it had received a video of him pleading for his life, saying he had just three days to live.
Qatar, whose diplomacy helped secure Mr Curtis' release, is believed to be working to free remaining hostages in Syria.
Meanwhile the US is preparing military options in Syria, including surveillance flights, in an effort to eradicate IS.
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