Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) took to social media to celebrate the release of Dennis Coyle, who has been held captive by the Taliban for over a year.
Coyle, 64, is an American academic who has been living and working in the Afghan capital of Kabul for nearly twenty years when he was kidnapped by the Taliban in January 2025 and kept in near-solitary confinement.
Fox News reports that Coyle was held purely as leverage, as the Taliban government charged him with no crime.
In cooperation with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, President Donald Trump and State Secretary Marco Rubio secured Coyle's release.
"The Taliban must end their practice of hostage diplomacy," said Secretary Rubio in a statement. "President Trump is committed to ending unjust detentions overseas – Dennis joins over 100 Americans who have been freed in the past 15 months under his second term in office."
On social media, Rep. Biggs wrote, "Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump and @SecRubio, for your continued efforts to bring Americans home."
"We can't wait to see @FreeDennisCoyle back on U.S. soil and reunited with his loved ones," he continued, adding, "A great day for his family members, who have worked so hard for his release."
Sen. Kelly similarly welcomed Coyle, posting, "So happy to finally see Arizona native Dennis Coyle released and on his way home to his family after more than a year of being wrongfully detained by the Taliban. I know how relieved his loved ones must be, and I appreciate everyone who played a role in securing his release."
In October, the last 20 living hostages taken by Hamas in the wake of the October 7th terror attack of 2023 were released as part of a ceasefire negotiated by President Trump, which earned the praise of Representatives Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Greg Stanton (D-AZ), among others.
