A handout picture provided by the Saudi Royal Palace on Dec 13, 2017 shows Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz delivering a speech during the opening of the shura council ordinary session in Riyadh. The kingdom announced on Feb 27, 2018 that it has replaced its military chief of staff and other defense officials amid its stalemated war in Yemen. (BANDAR AL-JALOUD / SAUDI ROYAL PALACE / AFP)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia has replaced its military chief of staff and other defense officials amid its stalemated war in Yemen.
The kingdom gave no reason behind the shake-up that was announced early Tuesday morning.
Those fired included the country's military chief of staff, Gen Abdulrahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan.
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The kingdom also announced a plan on "developing" its Defense Ministry, without elaborating.
Saudi Arabia and a coalition including the United Arab Emirates launched a war in Yemen in March 2015 against Shiite rebels there.
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The conflict has turned into a bloody stalemate in which the kingdom faces criticism for its airstrikes killing civilians. Aid groups also blame a Saudi-led blockade for pushing the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of famine.
