The Pentagon announced that it has successfully transferred 11 Yemeni detainees to Oman after over two decades of detention without charge at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay. This move represents the largest effort by the Biden administration to reduce the number of detainees as part of its final phase in clearing Guantanamo.

With this release, the total number of detainees still held at Guantanamo has decreased to 15, the lowest number since the facility opened in 2002. Guantanamo has notoriously housed individuals detained in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, amid the U.S.'s broader military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Among those released was Shaqawi al Hajj, who had notably engaged in multiple hunger strikes during his imprisonment, protesting against his prolonged confinement and the treatment he endured when detained by the CIA prior to Guantanamo. According to the Center for Constitutional Rights, he spent two years in covert CIA custody followed by his extensive detention at Guantanamo.

Rights organizations and various lawmakers have consistently campaigned for the closure of Guantanamo or, at the very least, for the release of detainees never charged with crimes. During its peak, Guantanamo housed nearly 800 detainees.

The Biden and prior administrations have been tasked with finding nations willing to accept these detainees. Many of them hailed from Yemen, which has been the battleground of an ongoing civil war, complicating matters further. Oman, located on the Arabian Peninsula, has previously accepted detainees from Guantanamo, reportedly taking in around 30 individuals since the facility was established.

However, the Omani government has not publicly confirmed the latest transfer. Previous incidents involving individuals previously housed in Oman have seen them return to the Taliban-controlled zones or, as reported by CAGE International, some have faced pressure to return to Yemen with financial compensation offers.

The recent transfer leaves behind six never-charged detainees in Guantanamo alongside two who have been convicted, and seven others awaiting trial for their alleged roles in various terrorism acts.

This significant decision underscores ongoing debates regarding human rights and the future of the controversial detention center. Key discussions continue about its implications for both the individuals involved and broader international human rights standards.