In brief
With this move, the Biden administration continues efforts to close the controversial detention facility.
The U.S. military has successfully transferred 11 Yemeni detainees from Guantánamo Bay to Oman, marking a significant reduction in the prison's population. As of now, only 15 detainees remain at the facility, which was established in 2002. The Pentagon announced the transfers on Monday, coinciding with a broader initiative by the Biden administration to curb the number of prisoners at the site, bringing it to its lowest levels in two decades.None of the released prisoners had faced formal charges during their lengthy detainment, whereas most of the remaining detainees have been charged or convicted of war-related offenses. When President Biden took office, there were 40 detainees, prompting renewed efforts to close the prison in line with initiatives from previous administrations.The clandestine operation conducted earlier this week comes before Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the September 11 attacks, was due to enter a plea agreement. The release of the detainees had been planned for some time, but earlier attempts in October 2023 were stalled due to congressional resistance.Among those released were notable figures, including Moath al-Alwi, known for his artistic creations, and Hassan Bin Attash, whose brother is implicated in the September 11 case. All transfers were cleared through national security assessments. U.S. officials have not disclosed whether any negotiations took place with Oman for the transfer or what conditions were mutually agreed upon, but legally, returning detainees to Yemen is forbidden due to the ongoing civil conflict there.
