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Ten Yemeni prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay have been sent to Oman after review by top U.S. officials, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced Thursday.
The transfer of the 10 Yemeni men brings the number of remaining inmates at Guantanamo to below 100, the lowest number of prisoners held at the controversial U.S. military prison during President Barack Obama’s term in office.
“Just last night, after a deliberate and careful review, we completed the transfer of 10 Yemenis roughly 10 percent, that is, of the total remaining Gitmo population—to the government of Oman,” Carter said. “That brings the population to 93.”
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BREAKING: US delivered Yemeni detainees from Gitmo to Oman yesterday, largest Obama transfer. Prison census now 93. pic.twitter.com/UCfLOlGFLx
— Carol Rosenberg (@carolrosenberg)
January 14, 2016
Given the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the former prisoners will stay in Oman until they are able to safely return to their home country. Oman is a Persian Gulf nation neighboring Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
IN DEPTH: Guantanamo Prison Starts 15th Year
The move comes just days after Obama called Guantanamo a “recruitment brochure” for U.S. “enemies” in his State of the Union address Tuesday and as the push to close the prison remains in limbo 14 years after the facility opened.
Seven years ago, and seven years after President George Bush opened the prison, Obama signed an executive order saying he would close it.
WATCH: Inside Guantanamo: Mohammed El Gharani
