WASHINGTON — The Defense Department will appeal a military judge’s ruling that plea agreements struck by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and two of his co-defendants are valid, a defence official said Saturday.

A judge’s decision to allow plea deals in three 9/11 cases sets up a confrontation with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who opposes the Guantánamo court ruling.

The US government plans to appeal a military judge’s ruling that plea deals with the alleged 9/11 conspirators at Guantanamo Bay — which were revoked by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin — are valid, a defense official said Saturday.

The Pentagon intends to challenge a recent ruling by a military court that deemed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s decision to invalidate plea deals for several accused 9/11 co-conspirators improper,

The US Department of Defense is challenging the decision of a military judge to reinstate three 9/11 terrorists' plea deals that guarantee they would be spared the death penalty.

The US Defense Department (DoD) announced on Saturday that it will appeal a recent military judge's decision affirming the validity of plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the alleged mastermind