Kidnapped UN Staff Freed in Afghan Military Operation

Five Afghan U.N. employees kidnapped last month in northern Afghanistan were freed in a May 17 military operation, according to Afghan army officials.

Afghan troops surrounded a Taliban base in the province of Baghlan and freed the U.N. workers, said Gen. Murad Ali Murad of Afghanistan’s army in the north. The general added that two soldiers and “tens of insurgents” were killed in the operation.

U.N. spokesman Dominic Medley confirmed that the five staff members were freed but did not provide further details, the Associated Press says.