Kuwait Releases American Prisoners in Gesture of Goodwill

Kuwait has released a group of American prisoners, including veterans and military contractors, who were jailed for years on drug-related charges.

This move is seen as a gesture of goodwill between the two allied nations. The release comes following a recent visit to the region by Adam Boehler, the Trump administration's top hostage envoy, as part of ongoing U.S. government efforts to repatriate American citizens detained abroad.

Six of the newly freed prisoners were flown from Kuwait to New York, accompanied by Jonathan Franks, a private consultant specializing in cases involving American hostages and detainees. Franks, who had been in Kuwait to help secure their release, expressed gratitude on behalf of his clients and their families for the "kind humanitarian gesture" by the Kuwaiti government.

According to Franks, his clients maintain their innocence, and additional Americans he represents are expected to be released by Kuwait in the near future. The identities of the released prisoners have not been made public, and the State Department has not yet commented on the matter.

Kuwait, a small oil-rich nation bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia, is considered a major non-NATO ally of the United States. The two countries have maintained a close military partnership since the 1991 Gulf War, with approximately 13,500 American troops stationed in Kuwait.

Despite this alliance, Kuwait has detained numerous American military contractors on drug charges, some for extended periods. Families of these detainees have alleged mistreatment and abuse during their imprisonment in Kuwait, where alcohol is banned and drug laws are strict.

The release of these prisoners coincides with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a time when prisoner releases are common in Muslim-majority countries. As of now, Kuwait has not officially acknowledged the release through its state-run KUNA news agency.