The Department of Defense has announced the transfer of 11 Yemeni detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Oman. The detainees are 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, and Abd Al-Salam Al-Hilah.

Tawfiq Nasir Awad Al-Bihani was deemed eligible for transfer under Executive Order 13492. The other ten were determined eligible through the Periodic Review Board process established by Executive Order 13567. Both processes involved thorough interagency reviews by career professionals who found all detainees suitable for transfer in line with U.S. national security interests.

On September 15, 2023, Secretary of Defense Austin informed Congress about the plan to repatriate these individuals to Oman. Following consultations with Omani partners, the necessary requirements for their transfer were completed.

The United States expressed gratitude towards Oman and other partners for supporting efforts to responsibly reduce the Guantanamo Bay detainee population and eventually close the facility.

The Periodic Review Board (PRB) process is consistent with section 1023 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2012 and was affirmed in Executive Order 13823. It involves senior officials from various departments including Defense and Homeland Security. The PRB concluded that continued detention was unnecessary as any national security risks could be mitigated.

Currently, there are 15 detainees remaining at Guantanamo Bay: three are eligible for transfer; three are eligible for a Periodic Review Board; seven are undergoing military commissions; and two have been convicted and sentenced by military commissions.