An American citizen held by the Taliban since December 2024 has been released from Afghanistan, a source with knowledge of the situation told CBS News.
Amir Amiri, an American citizen detained nine months ago in Afghanistan, was released Sunday and is on his way back to the United States, CBS News has learned.
A source with knowledge of the situation said Qatari diplomats coordinated with the office of the U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs to facilitate Amiri’s release. After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, Qatar signed an accord to represent U.S. interests in the country. Before Amiri, it had helped secure the release of four other American citizens from Afghanistan earlier this year.
Amiri was detained in December 2024.
