A US citizen imprisoned in Afghanistan for more than a year has been released, two US officials told CNN on Tuesday, weeks after the Trump administration declared the country a state sponsor of wrongful detention. “Today, after more than a year of captivity in Afghanistan, Dennis Coyle is on his way home,” the top US diplomat said. Coyle’s release was first reported by The New York Times. The United Arab Emirates helped facilitate Coyle’s release, including providing transportation out of the country, the officials said. Later that day, the US imposed the state sponsor of wrongful detention designation on Afghanistan, which creates the possibility for the US to impose travel restrictions on Afghanistan.

Source: CNN March 24, 2026 18:11 UTC