(AHN) - The Department of Defense announced today that it had transferred 16 detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Saudi Arabia because an administrative review board recommended that action. That brings the total number of detainees transferred out so far this year to 96.Today's transfer leaves approximately 450 detainees at Guantanamo Bay. The review board determined that 100 of those detainees are eligible for transfer or release. The exact date those detainees will depart is the subject of discussions between the United States and other nations.
According to the DOD press release: "The United States does not desire to hold detainees for any longer than necessary. The department expects that there will continue to be other transfers and releases of detainees."
"Since 2002, approximately 360 detainees have departed Guantanamo for other countries including Albania, Afghanistan, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, and Yemen," the press release stated.