The US military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba now holds its smallest population, with just 15 detainees remaining after the transfer of 11 Yemeni men to Oman on Monday. The move comes as President Joe Biden’s administration continues to work towards closing the facility.
In a statement, the Department of Defense thanked Oman for its support in reducing the detainee population and ultimately closing the prison. The transfer is the largest to a single country under President Biden’s term.
The detainees were cleared by federal national security review panels to be transferred due to concerns over their continued detention being “consistent with the national security interests of the United States”. Three more detainees are eligible for transfer, according to the Defense Department.
Previous administrations had faced controversy over the treatment of detainees and the prison’s length of operation. Obama argued that the facility was contrary to US values and harmed partnerships with countries fighting terrorism. However, Congress has blocked transfers to certain countries, including Yemen, where the prisoners were held.
President Biden’s administration has worked to reduce the population but faces opposition from Congress, which may halt efforts before Trump takes office later this month.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg3k2v11k5o