The Department of Defense announced Wednesday the first release of a Guantanamo Bay detainee under President Trump.
Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al-Darbi will be transferred from the U.S. detention center to his home country, Saudi Arabia, where he will serve out the rest of his 13-year sentence.
In 2014, al-Darbi pleaded guilty to war crimes in relation to a 2002 al Qaeda attack and other terrorism-related activities. Under his pretrial agreement, al-Darbi was to be released to Saudi custody after serving four years at Guantanamo if he cooperated with authorities.
“It’s been my daily dream for four years to see my wife and children,” al-Darbi said in a statement through his lawyer in February, according to the New York Times. He previously was set for a February release, but faced issues dealing with both governments.
According to a statement from the Pentagon, the United States coordinated with Saudi officials to ensure he received secure and humane treatment.
The last release from the controversial detention center took place on January 19, 2017, former President Barack Obama’s last full day in office.
