Fahd bin Turki Al Saud (born August 1959) is a Saudi Arabian prince and military officer who served as the commander of the Saudi-led coalition joint forces operating in Yemen. He was relieved from his position and forced into retirement upon a royal decree issued on 31 August 2020.[1] In June 2021, he was said to have been sentenced to death over an alleged coup attempt.[2]
Fahd bin Turki Al Saud | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 1959 |
| Allegiance |  Saudi Arabia |
| Service/ |  Royal Saudi Land Forces |
| Years of service | 1983–2020 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant general |
| Commands held | RSLF Joint forces in Yemen |
| Battles/wars | Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen |
| Alma mater | U.S. Army Field Artillery School U.S. International University |
| Spouse | Abeer bint Abdullah Al Saud |
Early life and education edit
Prince Fahd was born in August 1959.[3] He is the son of Prince Turki II bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Noura bint Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman, a daughter of his grandfather Ibn Saud's half-brother, Abdullah.[3][4] Prince Fahd's full-brothers are Prince Khalid (born December 1957), Prince Faisal (born January 1965) and Prince Sultan (born May 1968).[3]
Prince Fahd completed the U.S. Army Field Artillery School in 1984.[5] He also has a master's degree in international business administration from the U.S. International University.[5]
Career edit
Prince Fahd joined the Saudi military in 1983.[5] He first led paratroops and then special forces.[5][6][7] Later he became deputy commander of ground forces and led the joint special operations, including Decisive Storm and Restoring Hope.[8] Until the death of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz who was the defense minister Prince Fahd allied with him.[9]
Prince Fahd was appointed the commander of the Saudi-led coalition joint forces in February 2018.[10] He was the commander of the Royal Saudi Land Forces from April 2017.[10][11]
On 31 August 2020 Fahd bin Turki was replaced by Mutlaq bin Salim Al Azaima in the post of Joint Coalition Forces Commander in Yemen.[1] He was forcibly retired following his removal.[12] The reason for Prince Fahd's dismissal was corruption allegations in regard to the transactions at the ministry of defense.[13]
In June 2021, he was said to have been sentenced to death by a military court over an alleged coup attempt to remove King Salman and his son and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman.[2] King Salman and Mohammed bin Salman are Fahd's uncle and cousin, respectively.
Personal life edit
The wife of Fahd bin Turki is Abeer bint Abdullah, a daughter of King Abdullah.[14] Fahd bin Turki and Abeer bint Abdullah have four children, one son and three daughters.[15] Their son, Abdulaziz, was named deputy governor of Al Jouf province in 2017.[14][16] His tenure also ended on 31 August 2020 when his father was dismissed.[1][17] One of their daughters married Mishaal bin Sultan Al Saud, son of Prince Sultan, in 2013.[18]
Fahd bin Turki bought a home on La Jolla's Whale Watch Way in San Diego, California, in the late 1970s.[19]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Saudi king removes commander of Yemen forces over corruption claims". Middle East Eye. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ a b Ali Al-Ahmed (27 June 2021). "Exclusive: Senior Saudi Prince Sentenced to Death in Military Trial". Institute for Gulf Affairs. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Sabri Sharaf (2001). The House of Saud in Commerce: A Study of Royal Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia. New Delhi: I.S. Publications. p. 124. ISBN 978-81-901254-0-6.
- ^ "Death on the Nile: A royal murder mystery?". Datarabia. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d FaceOf: Prince Fahad bin Turki bin Abdul Aziz, commander of the joint forces of the Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen. Arab News. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ Mohammad Tawfeeq. (27 February 2018). Saudi Arabia replaces military commanders in late-night reshuffle. CNN. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ Jeremy Binnie. (1 March 2018). Top Saudi commanders replaced. Jane's Defence Weekly. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ Farhan Musaad Z. Alnawmasi (21 April 2020). "Defending Yemeni Legitimacy". UNIPATH. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Hamid Hussain (August 2017). "Royal Rumble - Dynamics of Saudi Royal Family". Defence Journal. 21 (1). ProQuest 1932313647.
- ^ a b "Royal Order Ends Services of Two Senior Generals, Promotes Six and Appoints Them In Senior Posts". Defense Aerospace. SPA. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ "Forces Leaders". Ministry of Defense. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ David G. Rose (1 September 2020). "Saudi king sacks commander of the country's war in Yemen in anti-corruption purge". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "Saudi King Fires 2 Royals in Defense Corruption Inquiry". The New York Times. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ a b David Hearst (7 September 2020). "Saudi purge: Why Mohammed bin Salman can never rest". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ "الأمير فهد بن تركي: من هو الأمير السعودي المُقال والمُحال للتحقيق؟". BBC Arabic. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ Karen Elliott House. "Saudi Arabia in Transition: From Defense to Offense, But How to Score?" (PDF). Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. p. 7. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ "Saudi, Yemen military shakeups could mark new chapter in war". The Arab Weekly. Riyadh. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ "من هي زوجة الامير مشعل بن سلطان – ترند السعودية" (in Arabic). Saudi Trend. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
- ^ "S.D. Security Firm Sues Saudi Prince". The Los Angeles Times. 30 March 1981. Retrieved 27 September 2020.