Taliban releases detained U.S. citizen Dennis Coyle

The Taliban's foreign ministry announced it will release detained U.S. citizen Dennis Coyle, citing a family letter requesting his pardon ahead of the Eid holiday. Coyle's detention had drawn concern from the U.S. government, which has limited diplomatic channels with Afghanistan's Taliban-led administration. The release, if carried out, would mark a rare humanitarian gesture from the Taliban and could signal a shift in how the group handles cases involving American citizens held in the country. The timing around Eid—a significant Islamic holiday—suggests the Taliban may be framing the release as a religious clemency. Details about Coyle's initial detention and the circumstances leading to the family's appeal remain unclear.