Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Replaced Again

Saudi King again replaced deputy defense minister after only four months in the post by a half-brother of powerful intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan.Salman bin Sultan

Prince Salman bin Sultan, son of late crown prince and veteran defense minister Sultan bin Abdul Aziz who died in 2011, replaced Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed who was named deputy defense minister only in April, the official SPA agency reported late Tuesday.

Prince Salman, born in 1976 according to local media, was assistant secretary general of the national security council headed by Prince Bandar, and had worked at the Saudi embassy in Washington.Fahd bin Abdullah bin Mohammed No reason was given for the move, the latest in a reshuffle of princes holding government posts in the OPEC kingpin where the monarch’s age and frequent hospitalization have raised concerns over its future leadership.

Prince Bandar, formerly ambassador to the United States, is widely regarded as among the most influential powerbrokers in the Middle East.

Late in July, he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Few details emerged of the talks which came amid strained relations between Moscow and Riyadh over the conflict in Syria.