In brief
The U.S. military executed a transfer of 11 Yemeni prisoners from Guantánamo Bay to Oman, as part of efforts to reduce the detention population to its lowest level in over two decades, while political complications previously delayed the move.
In a significant development, the U.S. military announced the transfer of 11 Yemeni detainees from Guantánamo Bay to Oman on Monday, a move that has brought the total number of prisoners at the facility down to just 15. This operation reflects the Biden administration's commitment to reducing the prison population, which is now at its lowest point since Guantánamo opened in 2002.The 11 released prisoners, who had not faced any charges during their prolonged confinement, have been cleared for transfer through national-security review panels. The operation was executed covertly in the early hours, just days before Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, one of the most infamous detainees, was set to plead guilty in a high-profile case stemming from the September 11 attacks.Among those transferred are noteworthy individuals such as Moath al-Alwi, a prominent hunger striker recognized in art for his model boat creations, and Abdulsalam al-Hela, whose insights were important in a related military case. All of the detainees had been cleared for release after lengthy reviews.The Pentagon has not disclosed the specific terms of the agreement with Oman or any guarantees received in return. As the ongoing civil war in Yemen poses challenges for reintegration, U.S. law prohibits the transfer of detainees back to their home country.This transfer aligns with the Obama administration's prior attempts to close the facility and represents a milestone in U.S. detention policy. The previous administration had seen as many as 40 detainees upon Biden's inauguration, underscoring the impactful shift in handling Guantánamo's controversial legacy.
