SANTO DOMINGO.- The Dominican National Police have rescued a former U.S. Army officer in a raid that left two of his kidnappers dead, according to police chief General Bernardo Santana Páez. Two others were arrested in the operation that took place on Friday.

Cuban-born Armando López Estrada, a 68-year-old former second lieutenant in the United States armed forces, was kidnapped by four men on January 11 while visiting a friend in the Santo Domingo neighborhood of Villa Duarte, Santana Paez said in a statement.

Police tracked the kidnappers to the beach resort of Boca Chica, to the east of the capital, where Lopez Estrada was being held for $650,000 ransom.

Police opened fire and stormed the house. Two men in the house - Florian Medina, 32, and Julio César Morillo Ruíz, 41 - were killed. Ricardo Antonio Ramírez and Wilkin Miguel Minyetty Pujols were arrested on charges of complicity in the kidnapping, Santana Paez said.

The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo confirmed the news of Lopez Estrada's rescue.