Saudi Replaces Veteran Intelligence Chief Bandar bin Sultan

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Saudi Arabia has replaced intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the kingdom's pointman on the Syrian conflict, "at his own request," official news agency SPA announced Tuesday.

In a royal decree, the powerful official was "exempted... from his position at his own request" and replaced by his deputy, Youssef al-Idrissi.

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

But the veteran intelligence supremo went abroad for several months for health reasons, with diplomats saying he had been sidelined in Saudi efforts to support rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

They said the file has been transferred to the interior minister, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who cracked down on al-Qaida following a wave of deadly attacks in the Gulf state between 2003 and 2006.

Bandar's management of the Syria file had triggered American criticism, diplomats said.

The prince himself reproached Washington for its decision not to intervene militarily in Syria, and for preventing its allies from providing rebels with much-needed weapons, according to diplomats.

Media run by the Syrian regime and its allies in Lebanon have repeatedly lashed out at Bandar, accusing him of supporting Sunni Islamist radicals in Syria.

Comments 7
Missing --karim-- 15 April 2014, 21:24

Different terrorist, same objective: The promotion of terrorism, violence, and chaos across the Middle East, and the oppression of religious minorities everywhere.

Default-user-icon Rambo (Guest) 15 April 2014, 22:05

Yes, let us hope the one who will take his place will be able to provide the opposition with advanced weapons (not that it matters, given that the Butcher will never again control all of Syria).

Missing coolmec 15 April 2014, 22:31

you are ice man...lol

Thumb liberty 16 April 2014, 05:14

coolmec, are you that naive?!!! This is one of the fake accounts used by the same people posting here.

Missing canadianadam 16 April 2014, 06:03

I'm less interested in Bandar and more interested in seeing what he can do about the rats we have hiding in sewers in Lebanon.

Thumb liberty 16 April 2014, 08:09

lunatic!

Thumb EagleDawn 16 April 2014, 08:47

Agreed @jery!