(October 9, 2008)—Syria says it is holding two missing American journalists for illegally crossing the border from Lebanon.

A statement issued by the Syria Foreign Ministry said Holli Chmela, 27, and Taylor Luck, 23 were arrested Thursday after they crossed into the country with the help of smugglers.

It says the two will be handed over to the U.S. Embassy following a completion of "necessary measures."

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut announced Wednesday the two went missing during a vacation in Lebanon and have not been heard from since October 1st, when they headed to northern Lebanon en route to Syria.

An official with the U.S. Embassy in Damascus confirmed there were two Americans being held by Syrian authorities; however their identities had not yet been confirmed.