Saudi spy chief Prince Bandar steps down
The Saudi Chief of General Intelligence Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz has unexpectedly stepped down from his post and will be replaced temporarily by the deputy intelligence chief General Staff Yousif bin Ali Al-Idreesi.
Saudi spy chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan has been relieved of his duties at his request, the official Saudi Press Agency reported Tuesday.
“A royal order announced here today that Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz was relieved of his post as Chief of General Intelligence upon his request and that General Staff Yousif bin Ali Al-Idreesi was assigned to act as Chief of General Intelligence,” the Saudi Press Agency wrote, adding the shuffle is to take effect immediately.
Bandar’s acting successor, Gen. Al-Idressi, has been serving as Saudi Arabia’s deputy intelligence chief.
No explanation was provided for the move, which came after Bandar had reportedly been recovering from shoulder surgery in the US and Morocco in recent months.
