Saudi Arabia's king replaces air force commander
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Saudi Arabia's monarch has replaced the commander of the kingdom's air force.
The official Saudi Press Agency says that Crown Prince Salman received Lt. Gen. Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Ayesh on Saturday, the day after King Abdullah issued a decree referring him to retirement.
The prince also received his replacement as commander, Lt. Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed bin Raqad.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}No reasons were given for the decrees, and it was not clear if al-Ayesh had been scheduled to retire.
Last month, the monarch relieved deputy defense minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan, who headed Arab coalition forces during the U.S.-led Gulf War that drove Iraqi troops from Kuwait in 1991. Prince Khaled was replaced with former navy commander Prince Fahad bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdul-Rahman.