ALBAWABA—Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz has issued a series of royal decrees that significantly change the kingdom’s military leadership. Among the key decisions, General Mutlaq Al-Azima, the Commander of the Joint Forces in Yemen—an alliance of 17 nations led by Saudi Arabia—has been relieved of his duties and retired.
He has been reassigned as an advisor in the Royal Court with the rank of General. Major General Fahd Al-Salman has been promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed as the new Joint Forces Commander, replacing General Al-Azima.
This decision has sparked speculation about the reasons behind his dismissal, particularly given the ongoing truce between Yemen and the Saudi-Emirati coalition.
The royal decrees also include the removal of Lieutenant General Fahd Al-Ghufaili from his position as Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces.
He has been appointed as Deputy Chief of the General Staff with the rank of Lieutenant General, while Major General Mohammed Al-Ghuraybi has been promoted to Lieutenant General and named the new Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces.
Additionally, Lieutenant General Fahd Al-Mutair has been relieved of his duties as Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces and reassigned as an advisor in the Office of the Minister of Defense.
Major General Fahd Al-Juhani has been promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed as the new Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces.
The royal orders also included the reassignment of Samir Al-Tayeb from his role as an advisor in the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers to an advisor in the Ministry of Defense with an excellent rank.
