In a significant move, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the transfer of 11 Yemeni detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Oman, reducing the facility's population to just 15 detainees. This transfer comes as part of President Joe Biden's ongoing efforts to close the military prison, which has been a contentious part of the U.S. legal landscape for nearly two decades.

The detainees transferred include:

• Uthman Abd al-Rahim Muhammad Uthman
• Moath Hamza Ahmed al-Alwi
• Khalid Ahmed Qassim
• Suhayl Abdul Anam al Sharabi
• Hani Saleh Rashid Abdullah
• Tawfiq Nasir Awad Al-Bihani
• Omar Mohammed Ali al-Rammah
• Sanad Ali Yislam Al Kazimi
• Hassan Muhammad Ali Bib Attash
• Sharqawi Abdu Ali Al Hajj
• Abd Al-Salam Al-Hilah

This transfer, announced on January 6, 2025, is part of a broader initiative to responsibly diminish the detention population at Guantanamo Bay, which opened its doors in 2002. At its peak in 2003, the facility housed approximately 680 detainees. The U.S. military acknowledged the collaboration with the Omani government in facilitating this transfer, emphasizing the importance of international partnerships in addressing detention issues.

According to the Pentagon, after the transfer, three detainees are eligible for transfer, while three more case reviews are scheduled. The remaining detainees have either been charged or convicted of war crimes. Notably, of the detainees remaining at Guantanamo, among them is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, who remains a central figure in ongoing military commission proceedings.

Human rights activists express cautious optimism over the recent transfers, viewing them as a step toward rectifying the prolonged injustices faced by many detainees. Attorneys representing detainees like Sharqawi Al Hajj, who spent over two decades in captivity, celebrate these developments while urging continued advocacy against human rights violations associated with the facility.

As the Biden administration approaches its final days in office, the commitment to closing Guantanamo Bay remains a pivotal priority, with ongoing efforts to expedite further detainee transfers.