عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Pentagon Repatriates Algerian Detainee from Guantanamo

An exit door where detainees are released at the Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base, Cuba (File Photo: Reuters)
An exit door where detainees are released at the Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base, Cuba (File Photo: Reuters)
TT
TT

Pentagon Repatriates Algerian Detainee from Guantanamo

An exit door where detainees are released at the Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base, Cuba (File Photo: Reuters)
An exit door where detainees are released at the Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base, Cuba (File Photo: Reuters)

After over 20 years, the US Department of Defense announced the repatriation of Algerian detainee Sufiyan Barhoumi from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to his home country.

The release of Barhoumi, who was accused of training al-Qaeda terrorists, seeks to close the Guantanamo Bay facility.

The Pentagon said in a statement that on Feb. 4, 2022, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin notified Congress of his intent to repatriate Barhoumi to Algeria, and, in consultation with the Algerian partners, they completed the requirements for responsible transfers.

According to Agence France Presse (AFP), Austin praised the willingness of Algeria and "other partners" to support ongoing US efforts toward a deliberate and thorough process focused on responsibly reducing the detainee population and "ultimately closing of the Guantanamo Bay facility."

Barhoumi was initially accused in 2005 of participating in a terrorist plot and was charged with working as a trainer in an al-Qaeda camp, specializing as a bomb-making instructor.

But in early 2008, the Pentagon dropped the charges against him, and then in 2016, the Periodic Review Board process determined that the law of war detention of Barhoumi was "no longer necessary" to protect against a "continuing threat" to the US national security.

In all, 37 detainees are still held in Guantanamo after this deportation, which followed the return of Saudi detainee Mohammed al-Qahtani to his country also in early March.

Among the detainees, 18 are eligible for transfer, seven are suitable for a Periodic Review Board, and ten are involved in the military commissions' process, including the presumed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

Independent experts commissioned by the UN urged the US government last January to close its military prison in Guantanamo for the "continuous violations of human rights."

The US government pledged to close the "notorious" detention center that was set up after the Sept. 11 attacks as part of the "war on terror."

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
TT
TT

Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.