Saudi king removes commander of joint forces in Yemen over corruption claims

Saudi Arabia's King Salman dismissed Prince Fahd bin Turki bin Abdulaziz, the commander of the coalition fighting in Yemen, on Tuedsay over charges of corruption, state media said.

The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that Prince Fahd's son, Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd bin Turki, who had been serving as deputy governor of al-Jouf region, was also dismissed from his post.

The agency reported that both men were being investigated on corruption charges along with an additional number of officers and employees in the country's defence ministry.

"The Control and Anti-Corruption Commission shall complete the investigation procedures with all military and civilians related to this, take the necessary legal measures against them, and raise the results reached," SPA said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia's Deputy Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Mutlaq bin Salim Al-Azaima, had been appointed to fill the position of leading the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen, it added.

Saudi authorities have dismissed several officials responsible for developing the kingdom's tourism megaprojects over corruption allegations and accusations of causing environmental damage.

According to the SPA statement, the officials' multiple violations had impacted the completion of touristic projects.

Prince Fahd, the grandson of King Abdulaziz al-Saud - the founder of Saudi Arabia - had been in charge of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen since 2018. Riyadh launched the coalition in 2015 after Houthi forces in Yemen had seized much of the country.