All articles tagged with #guantanamo bay
U.S. intelligence is evaluating how Cuba might respond to a potential American military action, with Pentagon and DIA analysts developing options for President Trump as tensions rise, Cuba’s reported drone capabilities draw scrutiny, and sanctions and diplomacy continue, including meetings involving CIA Director Ratcliffe and offers of humanitarian aid if Havana shifts its ties away from Russia, China and Iran.
Cuba's president Miguel Díaz-Canel warned that any US military action would lead to a bloodbath and destabilize the region, following Axios reporting that Cuba owns more than 300 drones and discussed plans to strike targets including Guantánamo Bay. The foreign minister stressed Cuba's right to self-defense under international law, as tensions rise amid ongoing energy shortages and reports that US prosecutors planned to indict former leader Raúl Castro over the 1996 downing of Brothers to the Rescue planes.
U.S. intelligence says Cuba has amassed hundreds of military drones and discussed using them to attack Guantánamo Bay, U.S. ships, and possibly Florida, signaling a heightened near-shore threat tied to Russian and Iranian involvement; officials say the threat is not imminent but could influence sanctions and policy responses.
More than 30 House lawmakers urged top defense, state, and homeland security officials to end migrant detention at Guantánamo Bay and reject any military action against Cuba, warning such moves would be unlawful and destabilizing and would worsen displacement; they also pressed to lift sanctions contributing to Cuba’s humanitarian crisis and oppose plans for a Guantánamo migrant camp, citing the base’s abusive history.
Britain has reached a substantial compensation settlement with Abu Zubaydah, the Guantanamo detainee subjected to CIA torture, amid allegations that UK intelligence services helped facilitate his mistreatment. The payment is underway but not yet accessible to him, and campaigners say his ongoing detention and call for release and accountability remain urgent.
A U.S. appeals court overturned a plea deal in the 9/11 case at Guantanamo Bay, allowing the possibility of a death penalty trial to proceed, after the Defense Secretary had previously declared the deal void. The decision has delayed resolution for victims' families and may lead to further appeals and lengthy pretrial proceedings.
A US federal appeals court rejected a plea agreement that would have allowed Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of 9/11, to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence without the death penalty, citing legal authority and procedural issues, amidst ongoing debates over justice and transparency in the case.
The Biden administration is reportedly considering using the migrant center at the US Naval base in Guantanamo Bay to process Haitian migrants fleeing gang violence in Haiti, amid concerns of a potential mass exodus. The plan involves expanding an existing migrant center on the naval base, separate from the military prison, to accommodate any influx of migrants. This comes as Haiti grapples with a surge in gang-related violence, with the prime minister announcing plans to resign amid the unrest. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has also revealed plans to deploy resources in anticipation of a potential migration from Haiti to Florida.
The Biden administration is considering using Guantanamo Bay to process Haitian migrants in the event of a mass exodus from Haiti due to worsening conditions, including gang violence and political instability. The US is monitoring the situation and potential migration routes, with discussions underway to expand capacity at Guantanamo Bay. The administration is also preparing for a potential influx of Haitian migrants by sea, as federal resources are already strained and key immigration agencies are low on funds. The situation in Haiti has prompted the deployment of a Marine Fleet-Anti-terrorism Security Team and the resignation of the embattled prime minister, while the US government continues to seek additional funding for border security.
Two Afghan prisoners who were held at Guantanamo Bay for 14 years have been released from house arrest in Oman, with the Taliban claiming credit for their release. The men, Abdul Zahir Saber and Abdul Karim, were transferred to Oman in 2017 after spending years in Guantanamo. They are set to return to Kabul, where an official welcome ceremony is being organized. Guantanamo Bay, established in 2002 to hold and interrogate those suspected of links to al-Qaida or the Taliban, has been the subject of controversy due to reports of detainee mistreatment.
Two Afghan prisoners who were held at Guantanamo Bay for 14 years have been released from house arrest in Oman, with the Taliban claiming credit for their release. The men were initially detained by American forces in 2002 and were later transferred to Oman in 2017, where they spent the next seven years under house arrest. The Guantanamo Bay detention center was established in 2002 to hold and interrogate individuals suspected of having links to al-Qaida or the Taliban, but it became notorious for reports of detainee mistreatment.
Two Malaysian men sentenced to 23 years in confinement at Guantánamo Bay for their involvement in the 2002 Bali terrorist bombing may be released by 2029 under a secret deal and with sentencing credit. The men, held by the US since 2003, pleaded guilty to war crimes charges and were subject to a reduced sentence in exchange for providing testimony in another trial. The jury's decision was influenced by this secret agreement, and the judge also reduced their sentences due to prosecutorial delays.
Families of British rugby players killed in the 2002 Bali bombings have traveled to Guantanamo Bay to witness the sentencing of two men involved in the attack. The accused will serve six years as part of a plea deal. The families have endured a long struggle for justice and delivered victim impact statements at the special military courtroom. Despite the grueling legal process, they hope the hearings will expose the role of al-Qaeda in the attack and bring closure.
In the Bali bombing trial, victims' relatives described their enduring grief and pain, while two Malaysian prisoners who pleaded guilty to war crimes charges for their involvement in the 2002 terrorist attack renounced violence in the name of Islam. The prisoners apologized to the victims' families during a U.S. military jury's sentencing hearing at Guantánamo Bay, where anguished testimonies were shared, emphasizing the devastating impact of the bombings that killed 202 people from 22 nations.
Pressure to close the Guantánamo Bay military prison has increased as it marks 22 years since its opening, with nearly 100 advocacy organizations urging President Biden to shut it down. The facility still detains 30 men, some of whom have never been charged, and the long-awaited 9/11 trial remains unresolved. The Biden administration's lack of action is attributed to a lack of courage and priority, with obstacles including "forever prisoners" cleared for release but still held, and a hopelessly gridlocked 9/11 trial. The rejection of a plea deal is seen as politically motivated, and there is hope that advocacy efforts may influence the administration's decision-making.