( CNN ) -- Thirteen nuns and three workers kidnapped in late November from a Greek Orthodox monastery in Syria were freed Sunday , a pro-Syrian government news network and Lebanese state media reported . A convoy of around 30 vehicles picked up the nuns and workers in one part of Syria and took them into Lebanon , the country 's National News Agency reported late Sunday . The convoy traveled through Lebanon to another border crossing into Syria , the hillside village of Jdaidet Yabous . There , the group will be met by Greek Orthodox church officials , who will welcome them back into Syria , Syrian state news agency SANA reported . The convoy was at one point delayed several hours for `` logistical reasons '' but later resumed en route to Jdaidet Yabous , Public Security Director Gen. Abbas Ibrahim told NNA . When they did arrive overnight , the nuns -- some smiling , some solemn and at least one of whom appeared to be being carried -- were mobbed by an enthusiastic crowd that included church officials . Ibrahim said that no money was paid to secure the release of the nuns , adding that it was part of a deal in exchange for 150 females that the Syrian government was holding . Qatari intelligence chief Saadeh Kobeisi reportedly crossed deep into Syrian territory to obtain the release of the Syrian nuns . He crossed into Syria as part of a Lebanese Internal Security delegation , the state news agency said . Senior Orthodox Bishop Lucas al-Khoury earlier Sunday spoke to pro-Syrian government Ikhbariya television . He stood on the Syrian side of the border hoping to greet the nuns and said the negotiations for their release took several months because the kidnappers `` made false requests intended to stall the process . '' The Greek Orthodox figure , who often speaks out on behalf of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad 's government , added that the recent Syrian troop offensive on the opposition stronghold of Yabroud worked in favor of the nuns ' release . Days after the kidnapping , SANA reported that armed terrorists took the nuns , implying that rebels fighting to oust al-Assad were behind the attack . The chief of an opposition group based in London told CNN he had confirmed that al-Nusra Front fighters abducted the nuns , but Rami Abdurrahman said the fighters did so to protect them from what the group believed would be an impending attack by Syrian government forces . CNN could not confirm Abdurrahman 's account of why the nuns were taken from the Monastery of Saint Tecla in the predominantly Christian village of Maaloula , about 40 miles west of Damascus . Abdurrahman leads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , based in Great Britain . The U.S. State Department has designated the al-Nusra Front a terrorist organization with links to al Qaeda . Christians make up about 10 % of the population of Syria , but Christianity has a rich history there . Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River , and some people believe it was in a location now along a part of modern-day Syria . Some of the earliest relics were found there . And Maaloula , in the Qalamoun Mountains , is one of the last places where the ancient Aramaic that Jesus spoke is still the main language . Many of Syria 's Christians support the al-Assad government , fearing that an end to his presidency could lead to instability and an Islamist power grab . Meanwhile , on Sunday four rescue workers who rushed to help survivors of a barrel bomb attack in the city of Aleppo became victims themselves when more of the crude explosive devices were dropped by government helicopters , according to the Aleppo Media Center , a communication outlet run by rebels fighting to oust al-Assad . At least 14 are reported dead in that incident , the outlet said . In another neighborhood Sunday , rescue workers recovered the bodies of a husband , wife and five children ranging in ages from 5 to 14 , the outlet reported . A barrel bomb had apparently leveled their home , it said . The attack killed at least 10 people total and destroyed six residential buildings , the outlet reported . The father of one child victim wept and flailed his arms against his body as he cried , `` Where is my son , my Hamoudi ? They buried them alive . Oh God , they buried them alive ! '' a video on YouTube shows . CNN 's Saad Abedine and Greg Botelho contributed to this report .
NEW : The nuns are mobbed by crowds as they arrive in a Syrian-Lebanon border town . Nuns and workers kidnapped last year reportedly freed , pro-Syrian regime media say . Lebanese official to state news : Nuns freed in exchange for Syrian prisoners ' release . Comment: