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Prince Khalid bin Salman Appointed Deputy Defense Minister, Princess Reema Ambassador to US

Prince Khaled bin Salman and Princess Reema bint Bandar
Prince Khaled bin Salman and Princess Reema bint Bandar
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Prince Khalid bin Salman Appointed Deputy Defense Minister, Princess Reema Ambassador to US

Prince Khaled bin Salman and Princess Reema bint Bandar
Prince Khaled bin Salman and Princess Reema bint Bandar

Deputy King Prince Mohammed bin Salman issued two royal decrees on Saturday appointing Prince Khaled bin Salman as the Kingdom’s deputy defense minister and Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan as Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States.

A separate royal decree ordered a one-month salary bonus for frontline military officials on the kingdom's southern border.

Earlier in the day, Saudi King Salman issued a royal order deputizing Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman “to steer the state’s affairs” throughout the period of the King’s absence during his visit to Egypt to take part in the first joint Arab League-European Union summit.

Becoming the first woman ambassador in the Kingdom's history, Princess Reema replaced Prince Khalid bin Salman, the younger brother of the powerful crown prince.

Prince Khalid was appointed as Saudi ambassador to the United States of America on April 22, 2017. He presented his credentials to US President Donald Trump and took office on July 21, 2017.

He graduated from the King Faisal Air Academy in Riyadh and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF).

He received his initial training at Randolph Air Base in San Antonio, Texas, and received advanced training at the Columbus Air Base in Columbus, Mississippi. He also studied advanced electronic warfare in France.

Prior to his appointment as the Kingdom's ambassador to Washington, he served as an advisor at the Office of the Minister of Defense and then as an advisor to the Kingdom's embassy in Washington.

During his tenure as advisor at the Office of the Minister of Defense, he was appointed by HRH the Crown Prince with various portfolios and responsibilities.

Prince Khalid has been close to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for a long time, and has been able during this period to accommodate the vision of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to develop the Ministry of Defense to be in the ranks of developed countries militarily.

Before a back injury ended his flying career, Prince Khaled flew more than 50 combat missions as part of the international coalition campaign against Daesh in Syria and as part of Operations Decisive Storm and Renewal of Hope in Yemen.

As for the new envoy, she is the daughter of a former long-time ambassador to the United States.

Princess Reema had a career in the private sector before joining the kingdom’s General Sports Authority where she championed women’s participation in sports and focused on increasing women’s empowerment.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Vernon College at George Washington University in the United States in 1999 and became the first woman to hold a multi-sport federation in the Kingdom through her position as President of the Saudi Federation for Community Sports.

Among her achievements is working alongside the Ministry of Education to establish sports education for girls in schools and the participation of women in many sports competitions.

She also played a great role in promoting awareness on breast cancer. She launched the 10ksa initiative, which was able to access the Guinness World Records after making the world's largest pink ribbon, which symbolizes the fight against breast cancer.

She has served as CEO of Alpha International / Harvey Nichols, as she entered the Fast Company of America magazine for the most creative people in 2014.

Princess Rima was chosen as 16th in the Forbes Middle East magazine for the 200 most powerful Arab women.

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Gulf

Islamic Ministers’ Executive Council Condemns Iran’s Attacks on the Region

Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Alsheikh addresses the conference. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Alsheikh addresses the conference. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Islamic Ministers’ Executive Council Condemns Iran’s Attacks on the Region

Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Alsheikh addresses the conference. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Alsheikh addresses the conference. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Executive Council of the Conference of Ministers of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs condemned the deliberate Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia, the Gulf and Jordan, accusing Tehran of seeking to destabilize the region, terrorize civilians, kill innocents and target homes, infrastructure, desalination plants, airports and diplomatic missions.

In a statement after a virtual meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the council said the attacks violated Islamic values and principles, good neighborliness, international treaties and international law, and posed a threat to international peace and security.

The council said the attacks could not be justified under any pretext and called on Iran to halt them immediately and stop supporting, funding or arming affiliated militias.

Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance and Chairman of the council Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Alsheikh urged condemnation of the heinous attacks by Iran and its militias on Saudi Arabia, Gulf Cooperation Council states and Jordan.

He said the attacks violated Islamic principles and international laws, undermined regional security and reflected a reckless attempt to push the region toward chaos and strife.

Alsheikh said Saudi Arabia and its leadership were capable of defending the country, protecting Islamic holy sites and confronting any threat to its security and resources.

The Kingdom had strengthened national unity, with citizens rallying behind the leadership and supporting its decisions, he added.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, the minister said the meeting came at a time of “abnormal circumstances” in the Muslim world marked by rising aggression.

He accused Iran of carrying out daily hostile acts, including launching drones and missiles without justification toward Saudi Arabia, Gulf states and Jordan, and said those countries remained steadfast, strong and aware of their responsibilities toward their religion, leadership and nations.

Gulf

Saudi FM, Russian Counterpart Discuss Regional Developments

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah/File Photo
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah/File Photo
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Saudi FM, Russian Counterpart Discuss Regional Developments

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah/File Photo
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah/File Photo

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov, during which they discussed the latest developments in the region, the Saudi Press Agency said on Thursday.

The discussion comes amid heightened tensions in parts of the Middle East, prompting continued diplomatic engagement between major international stakeholders.

 

Gulf

Gulf States Pursue IRGC, Hezbollah Cells Amid Ongoing Attacks

Suspects identified as fugitives abroad (Bahrain’s Interior Ministry) 
Suspects identified as fugitives abroad (Bahrain’s Interior Ministry) 
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Gulf States Pursue IRGC, Hezbollah Cells Amid Ongoing Attacks

Suspects identified as fugitives abroad (Bahrain’s Interior Ministry) 
Suspects identified as fugitives abroad (Bahrain’s Interior Ministry) 

Gulf Cooperation Council states are pursuing hunting down terrorist cells linked to Tehran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, as they continue to counter Iranian attacks, intercepting more than 6,246 missiles and drones, according to the Gulf Research Center.

Monitoring by Asharq Al-Awsat shows that within 30 days, Gulf security services uncovered nine cells tied to Iran or its allies, particularly Hezbollah, across four countries: Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE.

The first cell was announced in Qatar on March 3, and the latest on March 30—meaning all nine were dismantled within 27 days, or roughly one Iran-linked cell every three days.

Seventy-four suspects across nine Iranian cells

About 74 individuals were arrested or identified across the nine cells, according to official data. They include nationals of Kuwait, Lebanon, Iran, and Bahrain.

According to official statements and confessions, the suspects were involved in coordinating with operatives abroad in ways that undermine state sovereignty and endanger public safety. Charges include raising funds for attacks, plotting assassinations targeting leaders and public figures, damaging strategic interests, infiltrating national economies, and executing schemes that threaten financial stability.

They also face accusations of espionage, collecting intelligence on military and critical sites, and possessing drones and coordinates of sensitive locations.

“Exporting the revolution”

The activities and charges mirror previously uncovered Iran-linked networks in the Gulf. Gulf security specialist Dhafer Alajmi said Iran has pursued a policy of exporting its 1979 revolution, turning sleeper cells into an existential threat to Gulf states.

Gulf countries began dismantling such networks early in the current conflict. The first announced operation came less than 72 hours after the outbreak of US, Israeli, and Iranian military confrontations, reflecting heightened security vigilance.

In Bahrain, authorities uncovered three cells involving 14 individuals, including 12 detained and two identified as fugitives abroad.

In Kuwait, three cells linked to the banned Hezbollah group involved 45 individuals, some arrested and others identified overseas.

The UAE announced the dismantling of a network linked to Hezbollah and Iran comprising five members.

Qatar, the first to act on March 3, said two cells working for the Revolutionary Guards involved 10 suspects.

A three-dimensional strategy

Alajmi said Tehran relies on a three-dimensional strategy to encircle the region: local terrorist cells, recruitment within Gulf states to carry out bombings and assassinations, and regional armed proxies such as the Houthis and Hezbollah to exert missile and drone pressure.

He also pointed to “nuclear blackmail,” using nuclear facilities as cover for destabilizing activities and as leverage against the international community.

He said Gulf states have demonstrated exceptional efficiency through preemptive operations that foiled dozens of plots and uncovered weapons and explosives linked to the Revolutionary Guard.

He cited strict anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing laws that have constrained Iran-linked networks financially, alongside defense alliances, enhanced security coordination such as the Peninsula Shield Force, and advanced air defense systems.

He added that public awareness has denied such cells a supportive environment, turning them from pressure tools into losing assets.

“An old, renewed tactic”

Bahraini writer Faisal Al-Sheikh said targeting Bahrain and the wider Gulf through terrorist cells and proxy networks is a long-standing Iranian tactic central to its proxy warfare strategy, aimed at undermining states from within and spreading instability.

He described it as a system built on recruiting agents and exploiting weak loyalties, calling it “organized betrayal.”

Lebanese political analyst Ibrahim Raihan said Tehran uses such cells to destabilize Gulf states and signal that any attack on it would trigger broader regional chaos.

Developments since the start of hostilities show Gulf forces have not only intercepted attacks in the air but are also engaged in a parallel ground campaign to dismantle Iran-linked networks operating within their borders.