The United States has sent 11 Yemeni prisoners from the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison to Oman, the Pentagon said on Monday.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin informed Congress in September 2023 of his intention to support the repatriation of the 11 prisoners after a rigorous review, the Pentagon said.
“The United States appreciates the willingness of the Government of Oman and other partners to support ongoing U.S. efforts aimed at responsibly reducing the detainee population and ultimately closing the Guantanamo Bay facility.”
The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a United States military prison within a United States naval base in Cuba, established by the George W. Bush administration after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, to hold suspected Islamist terrorists.
At one point, nearly 800 people were held at the facility, which has been internationally condemned for denying prisoners the right to a fair trial and for human rights abuses.
Despite calls from human rights groups for its closure, a total of fifteen prisoners are still held at Guantánamo.
