The Biden administration has facilitated the transfer of 11 Yemeni detainees from the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba to Oman, where they will receive assistance in resettling. These individuals, suspected of ties to al-Qaeda, had been held for nearly two decades without trial or prosecution, a lingering legacy of the post-9/11 era.
The transfer marks a significant step in the administration’s broader effort to reduce the population at Guantanamo Bay and eventually close the facility, a goal shared by previous administrations but often met with political and logistical challenges. The detainees’ release followed a comprehensive interagency review process, according to the Pentagon. Career professionals unanimously determined that their transfer was consistent with the national security interests of the United States.
🇺🇸BIDEN FREES 11 GUANTÁNAMO DETAINEES WITH AL QAEDA TIES… BUT WHY?
Among the released are alleged bin Laden bodyguards and suspects tied to a 9/11-style hijacking plot.
None faced charges, but intel suggests extremist leanings.
The Biden administration sent them to Oman as… https://t.co/9WE8tQELUB
pic.twitter.com/o9PFNIMvn1— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 7, 2025
Who Are the 11 Detainees?
The names of the released detainees, as disclosed by the U.S. Defense Department, are:
- Khaled Ahmed Qassim
- Uthman Abdul al-Rahim Muhammad Uthman
- Moath Hamza Ahmed al-Alwi
- Zuhail Abdo Anam Said al-Sharabi
- Hani Saleh Rashid Abdullah
- Omar Mohammad Ali al-Rammah
- Tawfiq Nasir Ahmed al-Bihani
- Sanad Yislam al-Kazimi
- Hassan Mohammed Ali Bin Attash
- Abdu Ali al-Hajj Sharqawi
- Abdulsalam al-Hela
All 11 men were reportedly members of al-Qaeda, although several have disputed these claims and the circumstances of their detention. Many were apprehended between 2002 and 2004 and were initially held in CIA-operated “black sites” before being transferred to Guantanamo Bay. These covert facilities were infamous for the use of torture, a practice that has been widely condemned by human rights organizations.
BREAKING: Biden releases 11 Yemeni detainees with suspected al Qaeda ties from Guantanamo Bay — including two alleged former Bin Laden bodyguards pic.twitter.com/bEqUYzMItT
— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) January 7, 2025
The Path to Release
In 2023, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin informed Congress of the intent to transfer the Yemeni detainees to Oman. The move was part of a larger initiative to responsibly reduce the Guantanamo population while ensuring U.S. national security. A Pentagon statement expressed gratitude to Oman and other international partners for supporting these efforts.
Opened in 2002, the Guantanamo Bay detention facility has long been a contentious symbol of U.S. counterterrorism measures, criticized for indefinite detentions without trial and alleged human rights abuses. At its peak, the prison held nearly 800 detainees; the population now stands at 30 following these transfers.
While the Biden administration continues to push for the prison’s closure, the facility remains a complex political issue. For many, the release of these detainees underscores the need to address the broader implications of indefinite detention and the challenges of balancing security with human rights.
This recent transfer signals progress toward resolving a decades-long dilemma but also highlights the enduring controversies surrounding Guantanamo Bay.
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I’m Shivam Kumar. I’m pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day….
