prisoner swap

Americans released in Russian prisoner swap are back in the U.S.

4:34am August 02, 2024

by Ayana Archie

The trio exchanged handshakes and hugs with President Biden and Vice President Harris at the foot of their plane's stairs and embraced their family members as onlookers cheered.

World News

Prisoner swap with Russia frees Americans including Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan

5:08pm August 01, 2024

The Wall Street Journal reporter and the former U.S. Marine have been released by Russia in exchange for Russian prisoners held in the U.S. and Europe, in what the U.S. calls a historic prisoner swap.

A man wearing an Israeli flag looks toward ambulances outside a hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, on Nov. 24.

Some Israeli hostages are coming home. What will their road to recovery look like?

7:01am December 02, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

Dozens of women and kids held hostage by Hamas for nearly two months returned home to Israel this week. Experts say reacclimating is a process — and there are ways professionals and parents can help.

Family members embrace freed Americans Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz and Emad Shargi, as well as two returnees whose names have not been released by the U.S. government, who were released in a prisoner swap deal between U.S and Iran, as they arrive at Davison Army Airfield on Tuesday at Fort Belvoir, Va.

5 Americans freed from prison in Iran land on U.S. soil

10:24am September 19, 2023

by Bill Chappell

The former prisoners were tearfully reunited with family and friends at the airport, hugging and crying after years of enforced separation.

This undated photo shows Mark Frerichs, a U.S. veteran and civilian contractor who was released by the Taliban after being held more than 2 years in Afghanistan, part of an apparent prisoner swap.

World News

An American held hostage in Afghanistan has been freed in a prisoner swap

1:21pm September 19, 2022

by The Associated Press

Mark Frerichs, a Navy veteran turned civilian contractor, was abducted in January 2020. His release centered on a prisoner exchange involving Bashir Noorzai, a notorious drug lord and Taliban member.

Joey Reed, the father of former US Marine Trevor Reed, stands next to a placard of his son during a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on July 29, 2021.

U.S. Marine veteran Trevor Reed is released from Russia in a prisoner swap

9:19am April 27, 2022

by Rachel Treisman

Reed had been held in Russia since 2019. He was exchanged for pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was serving a 20-year sentence for conspiring to import cocaine into the U.S.

Sailors who were trying to rescue Ukrainian troops from Snake Island were instead captured along with the soldiers — and now they've been freed in a prisoner exchange, Ukraine announced on Thursday.

World News

Snake Island sailors are freed as Ukraine and Russia conduct a prisoner exchange

2:04pm March 24, 2022

by Bill Chappell

Ukrainian soldiers at the Black Sea outpost made headlines at the start of the war by profanely defying threats from a Russian warship. Russia and Ukraine each exchanged 10 prisoners on Thursday.

Supporters hold a photo of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe during a vigil in London in 2017. Iran released Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was imprisoned in 2016, and Anousheh Ashouri, a businessman, on Wednesday.

World News

Iran releases 2 British Iranian citizens from prison

3:08pm March 16, 2022

by Deepa Shivaram

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a charity worker, and Anousheh Ashouri, a businessman, have now left the country. A third prisoner was released on furlough. Other foreigners remain imprisoned in Iran.

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani, seen on Monday, has agreed to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners before peace talks begin.

In Reversal, Afghan Leader Agrees To Release Taliban Prisoners

5:31pm March 11, 2020

by David Welna

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani now says he will free 1,500 Taliban prisoners starting this week and 3,500 more during yet-to-start peace talks with the Taliban.

Hua Qu, the wife of Xiyue Wang, a Princeton University graduate student being held at an Iranian prison, wears a button bearing a picture of her husband as she speaks at a news conference to mark the third anniversary of his imprisonment, Aug. 8, 2019, in

World News

American Student Xiyue Wang Freed In U.S.-Iran Prisoner Swap

5:44pm December 07, 2019

by James Doubek

The Princeton graduate student held by Iran for three years, was released Saturday in exchange for Iranian scientist Massoud Soleimani, who had been held in the United States.