The Syrian government has confirmed that German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann, who went missing in January, is being held in detention. Michelmann, 36, was reportedly detained along with Kurdish-Turkish journalist Ahmed Polad during Syrian military operations in Raqqa earlier this year. The Committee to Protect Journalists has called for her release.

According to Syria's Information Ministry, the two were found in a building in Raqqa that had previously been used as a security headquarters by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Officials said the pair did not disclose their identities and lacked documentation, initially claiming they were humanitarian workers affiliated with the United Nations, a claim authorities later said was false.

The ministry stated that the two later attempted to escape and were re-detained on suspicion of being foreign fighters present in the country illegally. Syrian authorities said legal proceedings have begun and that the case will be referred to the appropriate judicial bodies, though no specific charges have been announced.