Dubai: Saudi Arabian intelligence chief Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, the architect of Riyadh’s policy on Syria, has been removed from his post by a royal decree, the state news agency reported on Tuesday.
Prince Bandar, a former ambassador to Washington, was appointed as the chief Saudi spy in July 2012 and given the task of helping Syrian rebels fighting to bring down President Bashar al-Assad.
His deputy Yousuf Al Idrissi will take over as acting head of intelligence.
Saudi security officials last week said Prince Bandar will return to the kingdom within days after around two months abroad for surgery and will return to his position as intelligence chief, including control of the Syrian dossier.
Saudi officials said that during Prince Bandar’s absence, Saudi Interior Minister Mohammad Bin Nayef was put in charge of the Syrian file and of the intelligence agency.
The three security officials said the prince was seeking medical attention in the US and resting in Morocco after surgery on his shoulder. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
Prince Bandar, who formerly served as Saudi ambassador to the US, has had special responsibility for the Levant for years, leading Saudi intelligence and strategic affairs in the region.
