*RIYADH:* Top military commanders of the Saudi Arabian armed forces havebeen dismissed by a series of late-night royal decrees.
The commanders of the air defence and ground forces have also been sackedwith their replacements appointed immediately.
The sackings were ordered by King Salman but his son and heir, the CrownPrince Muhammad bin Salman, who is also the defence minister is believed tobe behind the latest shake-ups in the corridors of power within thecountry. No official reason has been given for their dismissals.
The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) announced that the Chief of StaffGeneral Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan has been replaced by Fayyadal-Ruwaili.
A number of political appointments were also announced at the same time,including designating Prince Turki bin Talal as the Deputy Governor ofAssir province and Tamadar bint Yousef al-Ramah as the Deputy Minister ofLabour and Social Development. Tamadar bint Yousef al-Ramah is one of thefew women who has been appointed as a senior government official in thecountry.
The changes in military high command come as the Saudi intervention inYemen nears its third consecutive year. The UN has described the conflictas the “world worst humanitarian crisis.” -Agencies