A few prominent military officers were announced to have changed by royal orders issued by Saudi administration. Among the modifications are the leaders of the country’s land, sea, and combined forces, according to an article released by the Saudi official news agency.
Lieutenant-General Fayyad bin Hamed al-Ruwayli, the head of the army’s general staff, was retained in his position. Commander of the combined forces, the second highest ranking military position, will go to Lieutenant General Fahd bin Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Salman. According to the decision, Fahd bin Hamad was elevated from major general.
Previously serving in that post, Lieutenant General Mutlaq bin Salem bin Mutlaq Al-Azima, will resign from the armed forces. Al-Azima has gained a position at the monarchy as an advisor.
Lieutenant General Fahd bin Abdullah bin Saleh al-Ghufaili, the previous commander of the naval force, was named the deputy chief of staff. The previous head of the ground forces will now advise the secretary of defense department.
The fresh overhaul in the military structure of Saudi Arabia occurs at a time the Middle East is grappling with multiple security challenges. The Gaza war is entering the 10th month with over 40,000 victims while the Israeli conflict with Lebanon has reached its height in years. In Yemen, the Red Sea Crisis has given rise to a security and commercial crisis where Houthi administration has disrupted the transportation of goods and hydrocarbons due to the cargo’s affiliations with Israel.
A further silent conflict between Iran and Israel might break out at any time given Iranian’s insistence on responding to Israel’s assassination of former Hamas leader in Tehran. Saudi Arabia, formerly an active military party in regional conflicts, has kept up with the new mediating role, while keeping the prospects for a normalization of ties with Israel in sight.
