Largest ever Gitmo transfer moves 15 to UAE

The Department of Defense (DOD) on Monday announced it is transferring 15 Guantánamo Bay detainees to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“The United States is grateful to the government of the United Arab Emirates for its humanitarian gesture and willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility,” it said in a statement.

{mosads}“The United States coordinated with the government of the United Arab Emirates to ensure these transfers took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures.”

The DOD said Monday’s transfer reduces the prisoner population at Guantánamo Bay’s detention facilities to 61 detainees.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter has also informed Congress of the move after concluding every transfer meets the statutory standard.

The DOD said six of the 15 transfers were unanimously approved by the six agencies that make up the Periodic Review Board.

The remaining nine transfers were approved after the Periodic Review Board determined none of the detainees pose a continuing “significant threat” to U.S. security.

President Obama has repeatedly said he hopes to close the Guantánamo Bay detention camp before he leaves office.

Donald Trump on Monday said he would keep the facility open should he become Obama’s successor this November.

Trump, the GOP’s presidential nominee, also said last week he would try Americans accused of terrorism at the U.S. military base in Cuba.

“Well, I know that they want to try them in our regular court systems, and I don’t like that at all,” he told The Miami Herald on Aug. 11. “I don’t like that at all.

“I would say they could be tried there, that would be fine. I want to make sure that if we have radical Islamic terrorists, we have a very safe place to keep them.”

Congressional action would be required for U.S. citizens accused of terrorism tried by military tribunals at Guantánamo Bay.