Terry Anderson was leading the Associated Press’ Beirut bureau in the 1980s and was abducted in the city in 1985|University of Mount Union|CC BY 2.0

Terry Anderson, a former Associated Press (AP) journalist who endured nearly seven years as a hostage of the Hezbollah militant group, passed away at the age of 76. He is survived by a daughter and other family members.

Anderson was leading AP’s Beirut bureau in the 1980s and was abducted in the city in 1985. He went on to endure extreme conditions during his captivity, including beatings and isolation.

Despite the hardship, he persevered, engaging in debates with his captors and maintaining his resilience.

After his release in 1991, Anderson authored “Den of Lions: Memoirs of Seven Years” detailing his experience.

Anderson also pursued various endeavors, including opening restaurants and teaching journalism, and unsuccessfully ran for Ohio State Senate in 2004.

In 2000, a US judge ordered Iran to pay him $324 million for his kidnapping, of which he received about $26 million.