Saudi Foreign Minister reported in critical condition

The Washington-based institute for Gulf Affairs announced Friday that the health condition of 71-year-old Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal appears to be “extremely critical and possibly fatal”. The Institute added that he is currently being treated at a hospital in Jeddah.     

The institute, aligned with the Saudi opposition, did not specify Saud's illness and provided information that proved largely accurate on the illness of other senior Saudi officials.     

In this regard, Saudi opposition sources announced that Saud, foreign minister since 1975, had to postpone his visit to the U.S. for medical treatment.       

The foreign minister, some of whose duties were taken over by Crown Prince Salman, marked the latest in a series of senior Saudi officials struck with illness or incapacitation over the last nine months.      

The Institute for Gulf Affairs expected that Prince Abdul Aziz bib Abdullah, the son of King Abdullah and the current deputy foreign minister, will soon replace Prince Saud.          

“This shift may involve a more active engagement with regional players including Iran, Turkey and Egypt as well as non-state actors such as Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Hezbollah”, the Institute added.