Barran Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On January 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the successful transfer of 11 Yemeni detainees from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to Oman. This operation is part of ongoing efforts to reduce the detainee population and permanently close the facility located within the U.S. military base on Cuba's eastern shore.
In a press statement, the Pentagon confirmed that each detainee underwent a comprehensive review by multiple agencies prior to the transfer, which was coordinated with the Omani government to ensure all requirements were met.
The review process concluded that the transferred detainees did not pose a significant security threat to the United States and that any potential security risks could be effectively managed.
The United States expressed gratitude to Oman and other partners for their continued support in efforts to decrease the number of detainees at Guantanamo Bay and to facilitate the closure of the facility.
Currently, 15 detainees remain at Guantanamo, three of whom are eligible for transfer to their home countries or third nations, while another three are subject to periodic review for potential release. The remaining nine face charges, with military commissions, have convicted two.
At its peak, the facility housed around 800 prisoners, with the vast majority being transferred to other countries over the years. When President Joe Biden took office in 2021, 40 detainees were remaining, and he expressed hopes to close the facility.
Federal law prohibits the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to prisons on the U.S. mainland.