In brief
Following a clandestine transfer, the U.S. has sent 11 Yemeni prisoners from Guantánamo Bay to Oman, reducing the prison population to just 15, as the Biden administration continues its efforts to close the detention center.
In a landmark operation on Monday, the U.S. military transferred 11 Yemeni prisoners from Guantánamo Bay to Oman, signaling a historic reduction in the detention center's population to just 15 men. This development marks the smallest number of individuals held at Guantánamo since its inception in 2002, as the Biden administration pushes forward with efforts to shrink the facility's population.None of the newly released detainees faced charges during their lengthy two-decade detainment. In stark contrast, nearly all of the remaining 15 prisoners have either been charged or convicted of war-related offenses, underscoring a significant shift in the demographics of the detainees left behind.When President Biden took office, the prison housed 40 detainees. Following a strategic course initiated during the Obama administration aimed at closing the facility, this latest transfer represents a culmination of nearly three years of planning, although it faced hurdles, including opposition from Congress that delayed an initial scheduled transfer in October 2023.Among those released were notable individuals such as Moath al-Alwi, a former hunger striker recognized for his artistic endeavors within the prison, and Abdulsalam al-Hela, whose insights were sought by defense attorneys in a critical military case. All individuals had been cleared for transfer following comprehensive evaluations by U.S. federal national-security review panels.While U.S. officials have remained tight-lipped about the nature of any arrangements made with Oman, it is essential to note that due to Yemen's unstable civil conflict, prisoners cannot be returned there. The move appears strategically positioned as part of broader efforts to close a facility that has long been criticized by human rights advocates.
