US journalist Terry Anderson held hostage in Lebanon, died at 76

A US journalist Terry Anderson who was held hostage by Islamist militants in Lebanon in 1985 has died at the age of 76. Terry became a symbol of the suffering of Western captives during Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war.

The Islamist militants of Lebanon held Terry Anderson hostage for six years. He was the former chief Middle East journalist for the Associated Press. Hence, he was the longest-held journalist of the numerous Westerners kidnapped in Lebanon.

Terry Anderson, journalist held hostage for almost seven years, dies at 76 https://t.co/GZhwVuK7WD
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Shia Muslim groups held him captive in dark cells. The militants kept him blindfolded and chained for most of the time during the famous hostage crisis. Later, he revealed he almost went insane. His Catholic faith kept him from taking his own life before militants set him free in December 1991.

The daughter of the deceased US journalist, Sulome Anderson claimed Terry had passed away on April 21, 2024, at his Greenwood Lake, New York home. She was born three months after her father became hostage of Islamist militants Shia Hezbollah.

Sulome said her father found a calm, comfortable peace in his later years even though his father suffered greatly while a prisoner. She also said people will recall her father for his humanitarian efforts with the Vietnam Children’s Fund and the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Moreover, people will remember him due to his efforts for homeless veterans and many other amazing works rather than for his worst experience.

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Apart from this, Sulome revealed that planning a memorial for Terry Anderson will take some time for the family. However, she has not revealed the reason for his death.

After playing a game of tennis in Beirut early on March 16, 1985, the bitter journey of Terry started. Three shooters came out of a green Mercedes automobile that had curtains covering the back window and dragged him inside.

Hezbollah militants related this kidnapping to a part of their continuing operations against Americans. They demanded in exchange the release of Shia Muslims kidnapped in Kuwait. Shia Muslims were in custody for carrying out bombings against US and French embassies located there.