The U.S. military successfully facilitated the transfer of 11 Yemeni detainees from Guantánamo Bay to Oman on Monday, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to reduce the prison's population. This operation leaves only 15 men remaining at the facility, the lowest number since its inception in 2002.
U.S. Transfers 11 Guantánamo Detainees to Oman as Prison Population Shrinks Further
U.S. Transfers 11 Guantánamo Detainees to Oman as Prison Population Shrinks Further
Eleven Yemeni prisoners were sent to Oman in a significant move by the Pentagon, decreasing Guantánamo’s population to record lows.
The released detainees had faced no formal charges throughout their lengthy detentions, yet the remaining prisoners predominantly include individuals either charged with or convicted of war crimes. At the beginning of President Biden’s administration, Guantánamo housed 40 individuals; the decreased count reflects renewed attempts to close the facility, reminiscent of efforts initiated during the Obama era.
This allocation occurred discreetly under the cover of night on Monday, just prior to a highly publicized court appearance by Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks. Mohammed was anticipated to accept a plea deal that would spare him from facing the death penalty.
The transfer process, which took approximately three years to finalize, encountered delays primarily due to political pushback from Congress. The detainees included notable figures such as Moath al-Alwi, who garnered attention for his artistic projects during his time in Camp 6, constructing model boats from materials found within the prison. Others like Abdulsalam al-Hela and Hassan Bin Attash were also part of this release, both of whom had connections to significant defense cases.
Pentagon officials have refrained from detailing the negotiations or any concessions granted to Oman in exchange for accepting the detainees, as the U.S. remains legally unable to repatriate detainees back to Yemen due to ongoing civil unrest there. The administration's next steps in managing the remaining individuals at Guantánamo are yet to be disclosed.
This allocation occurred discreetly under the cover of night on Monday, just prior to a highly publicized court appearance by Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks. Mohammed was anticipated to accept a plea deal that would spare him from facing the death penalty.
The transfer process, which took approximately three years to finalize, encountered delays primarily due to political pushback from Congress. The detainees included notable figures such as Moath al-Alwi, who garnered attention for his artistic projects during his time in Camp 6, constructing model boats from materials found within the prison. Others like Abdulsalam al-Hela and Hassan Bin Attash were also part of this release, both of whom had connections to significant defense cases.
Pentagon officials have refrained from detailing the negotiations or any concessions granted to Oman in exchange for accepting the detainees, as the U.S. remains legally unable to repatriate detainees back to Yemen due to ongoing civil unrest there. The administration's next steps in managing the remaining individuals at Guantánamo are yet to be disclosed.
