US Initiates Largest Detainee Transfer from Guantanamo Bay in Years

The transfer of 11 Yemeni detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Oman marks the US's ongoing efforts to reduce the prison population, resulting in the lowest number of detainees in its history. The move comes ahead of significant judicial proceedings related to the September 11 attacks.

In a notable development, the United States has successfully transferred 11 Yemeni detainees from the notorious Guantanamo Bay military prison to Oman. This transfer, which was completed in the early hours of Monday, leaves just 15 individuals in the facility, marking the lowest number of detainees ever held there since its establishment. The Department of Defense expressed gratitude to Oman for its role in facilitating this process, emphasizing the commitment to responsibly reducing the prison population in hopes of closing the facility.

None of the detainees involved in the transfer had ever been charged with any crimes following their capture during the post-9/11 counter-terrorism operations, enduring over two decades of detention. The timing of the transfer is particularly noteworthy as it coincides with forthcoming legal actions against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind behind the September 11 attacks, who is set to enter a plea deal to evade the death penalty.

The transfer of these Yemeni detainees constitutes the largest simultaneous relocation to a single country under President Joe Biden's administration. While efforts to resettle the group in Oman have been in progress for years, the US determined that the ongoing civil war in Yemen made repatriation there too risky. Among those transferred are notable figures such as Moath al-Alwi, recognized for his unusual hobby of crafting model boats from various objects around the prison, and Shaqawi al Hajj, known for his hunger strikes protesting his prolonged detention.

Support for the transfer was granted by federal national security review panels, which deemed the move compatible with US national security interests. This milestone comes just days after another transfer of a long-term detainee, Ridah Bin Saleh al-Yazidi, back to Tunisia, raising hopes for potential additional releases as three of the remaining detainees are also deemed eligible for transfer.

Guantanamo Bay, established under the Bush administration in response to the 9/11 attacks, once held nearly 800 detainees at its peak. Its controversial reputation is rooted in discussions about detainee treatment and the implications of holding individuals without charges. Former President Barack Obama had sought to close the facility but faced significant congressional hurdles, while the Trump administration sought to maintain its operations, framing releases as a weakness in combating terrorism.

Under President Biden, efforts to decrease the number of detainees have been renewed, though significant obstacles remain. The path to closure of the facility continues to be uncertain as the political landscape evolves in the coming months.