On Monday, the White House announced the transfer of 11 Yemeni detainees from the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to Oman.
The detainees, who include two former bodyguards for Osama bin Laden, had been held for over two decades without being charged or tried.
Oman has agreed to resettle the individuals, despite ongoing U.S. military efforts against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.
The Department of Defense issued a statement confirming the transfer, saying:
“The Department of Defense announced today the resettlement of 11 Yemeni detainees from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of Oman.
The United States appreciates the willingness of the government of Oman and other partners to support ongoing U.S. efforts focused on responsibly reducing the detainee population and ultimately closing the Guantanamo Bay facility.
Among them, Moath Hamza Ahmed al-Alwi and Suhayl Abdul Anam al Sharabi are accused of being part of Osama bin Laden’s security detail.
Classified documents as recent as 2016 described al-Alwi as maintaining “an extremist mindset.” Al Sharabi was allegedly linked to a failed al-Qaeda plot for a 9/11-style hijacking in Southwest Asia, led by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
The transfer occurred just days before Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Guantánamo’s most infamous detainee and mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks, is set to plead guilty to his role in the attacks.
His plea deal, reportedly in exchange for a life sentence instead of the death penalty, has drawn sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers and families of 9/11 victims.
The same plea arrangement is expected to be offered to Mohammed’s co-conspirators, Walid Bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi.
The Biden administration’s transfer is part of its broader efforts to close the Guantánamo Bay facility, established after the 9/11 attacks to detain individuals linked to terrorism.
With this transfer, Guantánamo Bay now holds its lowest number of detainees since its inception—15, the majority of whom are Yemeni nationals.
Oman’s role in the transfer raises questions, as the U.S. has not disclosed specific agreements or concessions made with the host nation.
Yemen, where the detainees originated, remains a region of instability dominated by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Critics argue the transfer poses risks, given Yemen’s volatile security environment and Oman’s proximity to the conflict zone.
As debates over the future of Guantánamo Bay and detainee transfers continue, this latest move underscores the administration’s push to end one of the most controversial legacies of the post-9/11 era.