Raid Rescues American Doctor Kidnapped By Afghan Taliban

A daring raid has rescued an American doctor who was abducted by Afghan Taliban insurgents. The doctor was rescued by US forces during an operation in eastern Afghanistan early Sunday.

NATO-led forces announced the raid, identifying Dr. Dilip Joseph as the US citizen they rescued, reports Reuters. US General John Allen stated that he authorized the mission once intelligence showed the doctor was “in imminent danger of injury or death.” Allen added:

“Today’s mission exemplifies our unwavering commitment to defeating the Taliban. I’m proud of the American and Afghan forces that planned, rehearsed and successfully conducted this operation.”

The raid that rescued American doctor Dilip Joseph was, thankfully, successful, allowing the man to rejoin his family, once he is flown back to the United States.

The US citizen was abducted by the Taliban in the Sarobi district of Kabul on Wednesday, according to the rescue statement. The Boston Globe notes that 1st Lieutenant Joseph Alonso, a spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan, stated of the raid that rescued the American doctor:

“This was a combined operation of U.S. and Afghan forces. Information was collected through multiple intelligence sources, which allowed Afghan and coalition forces to identify the location of Joseph and the criminals responsible for his captivity.”

General Allen added, “Thanks to them, Dr. Joseph will soon be rejoining his family and loved ones.” No information was immediately available on where the doctor is from or if he was injured during the five days he spent in captivity.

There were also no immediate details on how the raid to rescue the American doctor was conducted.