ISTANBUL

US Ambassador in Ankara Jeffrey Flake expressed gratitude Thursday to Türkiye for facilitating a prisoner exchange. 

"I am thrilled that wrongfully detained Americans are now free and being reunited with their families, and I am grateful to the Government of Türkiye for extraordinary support in making today possible," Flake said in a message that was posted on X.

Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) led an extensive prisoner exchange involving seven countries on Thursday where 26 individuals were exchanged and transported to Ankara.

Seven aircraft from Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and two from the US transported the prisoners to Türkiye as part of the operation. Thirteen individuals were later transferred to Germany, 10, including two children, to Russia, and three to the US.