U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated that the United States could announce a significant bounty on senior Taliban leaders, potentially surpassing the reward once offered for Osama bin Laden. Rubio’s statement follows reports suggesting that the Taliban have taken more American hostages than previously disclosed.
According to Reuters, Rubio wrote on social media platform X: “We are hearing reports that the Taliban have taken far more Americans hostage than reported. If this is true, we must immediately place a massive bounty on their top leaders—perhaps even larger than the one for Osama bin Laden.”
The post did not provide further details about the number of Americans reportedly held by the Taliban.
Last week, Afghan authorities confirmed that the U.S. had exchanged two detained American citizens for an Afghan national convicted of drug trafficking and extremism in an American court. On Tuesday, Afghan officials announced the return of Khan Mohammad to Kabul following his release, while the Taliban administration confirmed that two Americans had been freed in the exchange.
One of the released Americans was identified as Ryan Corbett, who had reportedly been in Taliban custody since 2022. U.S. media reported that the second released American was William McEntee. Both individuals’ families have confirmed their release in statements.
Following the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2021 after two decades of conflict, the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Thursday that a request had been submitted for arrest warrants against two Taliban leaders, including Supreme Spiritual Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. The request alleges crimes again
