Dennis Coyle ‘very thankful’ for returning to US and family

Dennis Coyle, an American previously detained in Afghanistan, expressed deep gratitude at his release, having spent over a year detained in the country.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Coyle’s release on Tuesday after it was ordered personally by Sheikh Haibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of Afghanistan. Coyle, 64, had been studying languages in the country for the past 20 years when the Taliban detained him, a detainment his family and the United States argued was arbitrary.

Coyle flew back to the U.S. on Tuesday and said he is “very appreciative” of those who advocated for his release. He said he had a “priceless” discussion with his mother ahead of his arrival in Texas.

“And I said, of course, I’m very thankful to be going back to my homeland,” Coyle said on NewsNation’s CUOMO on Tuesday. “I’m very proud to be an American. There’s a Pashto proverb that says, to every person