Taliban releases American prisoner held for two years, Rubio says

The Taliban has released an American prisoner that was held by the militant group for over two years, in a deal struck by the Trump administration with the assistance of Qatari negotiators, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday.

George Glezmann, a Delta Airlines mechanic, was abducted by the Taliban in December 2022 while traveling in Afghanistan and identified as wrongfully detained by the federal government the next year. Glezmann’s freedom marks the third release of an American prisoner of the Taliban since January.

In his statement, Rubio said Glezmann was on his way back to the U.S. to be reunited with his wife. He also expressed gratitude for Qatar, whose supplied negotiators helped broker the deal.

“Qatar has consistently proven to be a reliable partner and trusted mediator, facilitating complex negotiations,” Rubio said.

Qatari negotiators have been supporting the Trump administration with diplomatic initiatives across the Middle East, including the now-crumbling Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.

Rubio also noted that Glezmann’s incoming return follows the release of Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, two Americans released by the Taliban shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

“George’s release is a positive and constructive step,” Rubio said. “It is also a reminder that other Americans are still detained in Afghanistan. President Trump will continue his tireless work to free ALL Americans unjustly detained around the world.”