Pentagon Announces Transfer of Dozen Guantanamo Prisoners in Near Future

The US Defense Department is intented to transfer about a dozen prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay to at least two countries.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The US Defense Department has announced to Congress its intention to transfer around a dozen prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility to at least two countries, media reported Thursday, citing US officials.

According to Sky News, a US official said the first transfer is due to take place in the next few days, while another one is scheduled for the coming weeks. The official has not disclosed the destination countries.

Tariq Ba Odah, a Yemeni detainee on a long-term hunger strike, is expected to be among the prisoners due to be transferred, the media outlet reported.

According to US Department of State Special Envoy for  Closure Lee Wolosky, 36 of the 91 detainees remaining at Guantanamo Bay have been approved for transfer, while roughly 40 have neither been approved nor are facing charges.

Despite a likely closure of the detention facility by the time US President Barack Obama leaves office after the presidential elections in November, the White House and senior US officials have reiterated that the United States will not hand back the naval base at Guantanamo Bay back to Cuba.