A military appeals court has ruled against Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's effort to throw out the plea deals reached for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other defendants in the 9/11 attacks.

The U.S. government earlier this year entered into the plea agreements with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other 9/11 suspects, sparing them the death penalty.

The three-judge decision appeared, at least for now, to put plea proceedings for Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and two others back on track to take place in early January at Guantánamo Bay.

A military appeals court has ruled against Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's effort to throw out the plea deals reached for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other defendants in the 9/11 attacks, a U.S. official said.

The decision follows years of legal disputes, with Austin claiming he could reject the deals allowing the men to plead guilty to avoid the death penalty.