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Crown Prince Sultan Crown Prince Sultan Saudi Princes Arabia 20050907  
Prince Sultan Bin Faisal Bin Turki Prince Sultan Bin Faisal Bin Turki Saudi Princes Middle East 20020723  
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Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Saudi Princes Arabia 20050802  
Prince Sultan bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah Al-Saud Prince Sultan bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah Al-Saud Saudi Princes Middle East 20020723  
Prince Sultan bin Turki Prince Sultan bin Turki Saudi Princes Middle East 20030118  
Prince Sultan bin Turki bin Abd al-Aziz Prince Sultan bin Turki bin Abd al-Aziz Saudi Princes Arabia 20040121  

Arabia
480th Fighter Sqd (SEAD) to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
2024-10-26
See also here for an extensive round-up of the Iran side of the exercise, and note here that Iraq closed their airspace and here for the Daily Mail’s extensive report from the Israeli side. Go Team!
[X]

From another tweet
💥 Ah, the pieces are coming together now. The tanker activity over the Mediterranean was all about getting these F-16CJs from the 480th Fighter Squadron safely into position at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. And these aren’t just any F-16s—these are SEAD specialists, tasked with the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses. When the 480th shows up, it means the U.S. is gearing up to neutralize potential anti-air threats, clearing the skies for further operations if necessary.

🌌 This deployment is a clear message to Iran and its regional allies. With tensions skyrocketing, the arrival of SEAD-capable aircraft tells everyone that the U.S. isn’t merely monitoring the situation; it’s prepared to act decisively to protect American and allied interests. By placing these jets in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. is strategically positioning its forces to respond to threats across the region, from the Persian Gulf to Syria to Israel’s northern border. The 480th’s F-16CJs will be ready to dismantle surface-to-air missile systems, radar installations, and other defensive assets if hostilities break out.

🚨 And let’s be clear: this move is as much about deterrence as it is about preparation. SEAD operations are among the first steps in any air campaign, signaling that the U.S. is ready to create an environment where its aircraft can operate freely. Iran and its proxies have significant air-defense capabilities, and the arrival of SEAD specialists suggests the U.S. is prepared to neutralize those defenses if red lines are crossed.

So, what’s the takeaway? With these F-16CJs now in place, the U.S. has upped the ante. This is a powerful show of force that should make any adversaries think twice about escalating. The skies over the Middle East just got a lot more complicated—and a lot more dangerous for anyone who might challenge U.S. or allied aircraft.
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Arabia
US removes some military capabilities, forces from Saudi Arabia — report
2021-04-02
[IsraelTimes] US President Joe The Big Guy Biden
...46th president of the U.S. Former Senator-for-Life from Delaware, an example of the kind of top-notch Washington intellect to be found in the World's Greatest Deliberative Body....
 has ordered the removal of some elements of the country’s military presence in Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
, in the first of several steps to refocus US attention away from the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal reports citing unnamed defense officials.

The report says the US has "removed at least three Patriot antimissile batteries from the Gulf region, including one from Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, that had been put in place in recent years to help protect American forces."
If the Saudis want them back, they can buy them.
"Some capabilities, including an aircraft carrier and surveillance systems, are being diverted from the Middle East to answer military needs elsewhere around the globe," it says, adding that "other reductions are under consideration."

The moves mean that thousands of troops could eventually leave the region
Related:
Prince Sultan Air Base: 2020-05-08 US pulls anti-missile systems from Saudi Arabia amid oil dispute
Prince Sultan Air Base: 2020-02-27 Thousands Of US Troops Return to PSAB After 17-Year Absence To 'Deter Iran'
Prince Sultan Air Base: 2020-01-31 Pentagon Identifies 2 Air Force Airmen Killed in Afghanistan
Link


Arabia
US pulls anti-missile systems from Saudi Arabia amid oil dispute
2020-05-08
[IsraelTimes] Washington removes 2 Patriot batteries from crude fields as tensions boil between kingdom and White House over fuel production.

The US is pulling two Patriot missile batteries and some fighter aircraft out of Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
, an American official said Thursday, amid tensions between the kingdom and the Trump administration over oil production.

The official said the decision removes two batteries that were guarding oil facilities in Saudi Arabia but leaves two Patriot batteries at Prince Sultan Air Base in the Saudi desert, along with other air defense systems and jet fighters. The US official said a THAAD anti-ballistic missile defense system will also remain in Saudi Arabia. The THAAD complements the Patriots by providing a defense against ballistic missiles traveling outside Earth’s atmosphere.

The decision scales back the American presence in Saudi Arabia just months after the Pentagon began a military buildup there to counter threats from Iran. About 300 troops that staff the two batteries would also leave Saudi Arabia, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.

The move comes as the US has sent Patriot systems into Iraq to protect American and allied troops there, who came under an Iranian missile attack earlier this year. The Army has a limited number of the systems, and they routinely must be brought home for upgrades.

Two other Patriot batteries that are in the Middle East region are also heading home to the US, in a planned redeployment for maintenance and upgrades.

It’s not clear, however, whether the ongoing oil dispute or the struggle to parcel out the much-coveted Patriot systems was the key factor in the US decision to pull systems out of the kingdom.

Asked about the move Thursday, US President Donald Trump
...The tack in the backside of the Democratic Party...
 said, "We’re making a lot of moves in the Middle East and elsewhere. We do a lot of things all over the world, militarily we’ve been taken advantage of all over the world."

He didn’t provide details, but added, "This has nothing to do with Saudi Arabia. This has to do with other countries, frankly, much more."

The Saudi government and the Saudi Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. State-run media in the kingdom similarly did not immediately acknowledge the troop removal.

The Pentagon announced last year that it would begin deploying forces and Patriot batteries to Prince Sultan Air Base, a former US military hub. The move was one of the more dramatic signs of America’s decision to beef up troops in the Middle East in response to threats from Iran.

When Gen. Frank McKenzie, the top US commander for the Middle East, visited the base earlier this year, the American troop presence had grown to roughly 2,500. At the time, McKenzie told news hounds with him that the base was a key strategic location, but that continued presence of troops and weapons there would depend on other national security needs around the world.
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Arabia
Thousands Of US Troops Return to PSAB After 17-Year Absence To 'Deter Iran'
2020-02-27
[Zero] After a nearly 17 year absence, US troops have returned Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan Air Base. The last time the base, which lies about 60 miles outside of Riyadh, saw an American presence was in 2003, after which the troops moved to Qatar.

The American troop surge into the gulf region to curtail Iran continues even as the world is focused on the coronavirus pandemic, which appears to be spreading in the Middle East.

While the Pentagon focuses on "deterring Iran," the Islamic Republic is busy dealing with a very different and more immediately devastating threat. Coronavirus has killed 19 Iranians among 139 confirmed to be infected, as we reported earlier, and one lawmaker has claimed that the true death toll is actually much higher.
Link


Afghanistan
Pentagon Identifies 2 Air Force Airmen Killed in Afghanistan
2020-01-31
[ToloNews] The Pentagon on Wednesday released the names of two Air Force officers killed in the crash of their Bombardier E-11A electronic surveillance plane in Afghanistan.

They were identified as Lt. Col. Paul K. Voss, 46, of Yigo, Guam, and Capt. Ryan S. Phaneuf, 30, of Hudson, New Hampshire. Voss was assigned to Air Combat Command headquarters at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. Phaneuf was assigned to the 37th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.

The cause of Monday's crash is under investigation, but officials have said there is no indication the plane was downed by hostile action.

"I’m pretty confident there was no enemy action involved. Aircraft mishaps happen," Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, told news hounds Wednesday at Prince Sultan Air Base in Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
The remains of the two airmen were recovered from the crash site in Ghazni province by American forces on Tuesday.

McKenzie said that as far as he knows, the U.S. troops did not meet any resistance going to the site.

"The main resistance was from the weather, which was really significant back there," he said, adding that "appropriate precautions" were taken in moving the recovery team to the site "because the last thing you want to do is have another mishap or have other people lose their lives in attempt to get up there."
Link


India-Pakistan
Two military-grade aircraft launching gears from US mysteriously land at Gujarat’s Mundra port
2019-12-26
[IndiaToday] Two military-grade aircraft launching gears weighing almost 11 kg, shipped from the US, mysteriously landed in "empty" containers at Mundra port in Gujarat on December 20. The investigating agencies are clueless about how these came to India.

Authorities recovered the containers on December 20 during an investigation.

These military-grade aircraft launching gears are used when flying a fighter aircraft from an aircraft carrier.

Sources said prima facie it appears that it is an attempt to smuggle military-grade aircraft launching gears in India or a matter of corporate espionage.

Security sources said the military-grade aircraft launching gears found at the Mundra port are manufactured by only two corporate giants, Boeing (based in the US) and Airbus (headquartered in Europe).

The shipment came from the US, sources said.

Sources stated that earlier there have been a few cases where Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and a few corporate companies ordered spare parts and even machines from the US and these went missing and were never traced.

"These two military-grade aircraft launching gears were shipped from New York port on November 8. The consignment was booked by US-based company DHL Global Forwarding and was meant for Royal Saudi Land Forces," said a senior officer in Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

IANS has reviewed the copy of the shipment ordered from the US.

The aircraft launching gear was shipped for an address: Prince Sultan Road, HWY 156 Jizan Saudi Arabia.

The Kyoto Express ship, owned by a carrier owned by Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft, was carrying the consignment.

The consignment was not offloaded at Jeddah port and came to Mundra in Gujarat, and surprisingly, the two containers were marked empty, sources said.

The vessel had docked at five ports, including Pakistan's Karachi, and came to Mundra port and dropped hundreds of empty containers. While checking all the empty containers, which were being shifted to the yard, the customs officials found these containers "tagged empty" but contained aircraft launching gears.
Link


Arabia
Bones to the sandbox...
2019-10-27
​[Air Force Magazine] An undisclosed number of B-1B Lancer bombers touched down at Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia, their first deployment to the Middle East since they left the region in March. Their arrival marks a major addition of combat power to the newly opened location.

The B-1s flew directly to the base from Ellsworth AFB, S.D., in a deployment that "demonstrates PSAB’s ability to conduct combat ops," Air Forces Central Command said on Twitter. A video showed one of the Lancers touching down, with no additional information on the size of the contingent or length of deployment. A video from Air Force Global Strike Command shows at least four B-1s from the 34th Bomb Squadron taking off from Ellsworth.
Link


-Lurid Crime Tales-
Saudi embassy in Lebanon warns of imposter posing as royal
2018-06-21
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
’s embassy in Leb released a statement warning that a person on social media posing as a royal calling himself as Talal bin Sultan is an imposter.

The imposter has been seen on social media platforms posing as a Saudi diplomat meeting with figures and attending events.

"The embassy would like to alert that this person is unknown and is not one of the sons of His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz ‐ may God’s mercy be on him. The embassy also calls on whomever it may concern not to deal with this person," a statement posted on the embassy’s twitter account read.

"The embassy has also begun to take all legal procedures to prosecute him and reveal his true identity to reveal the purpose of his impersonation and use of a fake name and harming whomever he contacts," the statement added.
Link


The Grand Turk
Debka: Tit for Tat
2018-04-01
[Debka] The US liquidates its two main Mid East air bases at Incirlik and Al-Udeid

Plans to speed up the transfer of the big US CENTCOM base in Qatar to Saudi Arabia were approved by President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Muhamed bin Salman when they met at the White House on Tuesday, March 20. This is an earthshaking event for the Middle East, which far transcends US-Saudi relations, say DEBKAfile’s military sources.
They also disclose that, despite repeated denials, the Trump administration is in the process of another momentous move, packing up its air force and quitting Incirlik in southern Turkey, the biggest air base in the region.
The two moves are interconnected. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has become an avid supporter of the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is locked in a feud with the Saudi rulers. Turkey recently established a large military base in the oil emirate. The Saudi Crown Prince and his ally, the UAE ruler Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, are close friends and President Trump’s leading allies in the Gulf region. The two Gulf rulers view the Turkish president and Qatari emir as arch-foes.

The relocation of the two US bases stems additionally from the sharp reduction in fighting against ISIS in both Iraq and Syria. There is therefore less need for US air force operations in those parts. The US facilities and aircraft based in Incirlik are already being shifted to bases in East Europe, our military sources report. The Pentagon is also looking at Andravida in southern Greece as a replacement for Incirlik.

US installations are being shipped out of Al-Udaid in Qatar to the Prince Sultan Air base in central Saudi Arabia near Al Kharj, which lies 77km south of Riyadh. Fifteen years ago, this base was the main US air force hub for the oil-rich Gulf region, home at times to more than 60,000 US service personnel. When the US invaded Iraq in 2003 and captured Baghdad, the Saudi rulers insisted on the evacuation of US troops. Now they are returning.
The relocation of the two big US air bases in the Middle East is bound to shake up the region’s strategic dynamic. American soldiers are now in place to defend the Saudi kingdom. This will no doubt convey a clear message to Iran that the Trump administration has the back of the royal regime in Riyadh.
Link


Arabia
Saudi king replaces military chiefs in shake-up
2018-02-27
[bbc] Saudi Arabia has sacked its top military commanders, including the chief of staff, in a series of late-night royal decrees.

Saudi King Salman also replaced the heads of the ground forces and air defenses.

The news was published by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), but no reason for the sackings was given.

They come as the war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is fighting rebels, is nearing the end of its third year.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the defense minister, is believed to be behind various recent shake-ups in the country.

The service of the chief of staff, General Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, is among those "terminated", said the SPA.

Various military figures have already been promoted to replace those sacked.

A series of political appointments were announced at the same time, including the rare appointment of a female deputy minister of labor and social development, Tamadar bint Yousef al-Ramah.

Prince Turki bin Talal was appointed new deputy governor of the south-west Asir province. He is the brother of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who was detained in the anti-corruption drive and released two months later.

Times of Israel has more detailed info
“Termination of the services of General Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, Chief of Staff,” the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) announced, adding that Fayyad al-Ruwaili had been appointed as his replacement.


Al-Bunyan was retired after he inaugurated an arms exhibition this week in Riyadh by the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the state-owned defense company, which has drawn several global defense firms.

“A military transformation is underway in Saudi Arabia,” Theodore Karasik, a senior adviser at the consultancy Gulf States Analytics, told AFP.

Saudi Gazette

RIYADH – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman appointed Prince Badr Bin Sultan as new emir of Al-Jouf, replacing Prince Fahd Bin Badr.

In a series of royal decrees issued on Monday evening, the King made several key appointments of civil and military officials.

Prince Fahd Bin Badr was appointed adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the rank of minister.

Prince Turki Bin Talal was named deputy emir of Asir and Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Bin Muqrin deputy emir of Hail.

Dr. Tamader Bint Yousef Al-Rammah has been appointed deputy minister of labor and social development.

Lt. Gen. Fayad Al-Ruwaili, deputy chief of staff, has been promoted to general and appointed new chief of staff.

The service of the Chief of Staff Gen. Abdurahman Al-Bunyan was ended on retirement and he was appointed as adviser at the Royal Court.

Prince Faisal Bin Turki has been appointed as adviser at the Royal Court in the rank of minister and Prince Sultan Bin Ahmad as adviser at the Royal Court.

New ministers
Khaled Bayari -assistant minister of defense for executive affairs

Dr. Bandar Al-Mushari -assistant minister of interior for technical affairs

Ahmad Qattan -minister of state for the affairs of African states

Sheikh Saad Al-Saif -deputy minister of justice

Abdullah Abu Thunain -deputy minister of labor and social development

Faisal Al-Ibrahim, deputy minister of economy and planning

Khaled Al-Shunaifi –assistant minister of economy and planning

Muhammad Al-Mohanna new undersecretary at the Ministry of Interior for security affairs, replacing Hamad Al-Khalaf

Deputy Minister of Labor Ahmad Al-Humaidan was relieved

Deputy Minister of Interior and Member of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs Ahmad Bin Muhammad Al-Salem was relieved of his duties.

Muhammad Al-Mutairi – new secretary general of the Shoura Council

Adnan Al-Humaidan -new president of Jeddah University

Shalaan Bin Rajih Shalaan, deputy public prosecutor

Abdul Aziz Al-Zoum – governor of General Authority for Competition

Mayors
Tariq Al-Faris -Riyadh region

Muhammad Al-Quwaihes –Makkah, replacing Osama Al-Bar

Reshuffle of defense forces command
The King made major reshuffles at the command of the defense forces. These include the following:

Lt. Gen. Muhammad Suhaim, commander of the Air Defense Forces, ordered to retire.

Lt. Gen. Fahd Bin Turki, commander of the Land Forces, relieved of the post and was appointed as commander of the Joint Forces.

Maj. Gen. Mutlaq Al-Azaimie promoted to Lt. Gen. and appointed as deputy chief of staff.

Maj. Gen. Jarallah Al-Olwait promoted to Lt. Gen. and appointed as commander of the Strategic Missiles Force.

Maj. Gen. Fahd Al-Mutair promoted to Lt. Gen. and appointed as commander of the Land Forces.

Maj. Gen. Muzaid Al-Amr promoted to Lt. Gen. and appointed as commander of Air Defense Forces.

Maj. Gen. Turki Bin Bandar promoted to Lt. Gen. and appointed as commander of the Air Forces.

Link


Arabia
Saudi King Salman in tears, leads brother’s funeral
2016-11-13
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Prince Turki bin Abdulziz, a brother of Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
’s king, has died aged 83 in Riyadh on Saturday.

His death was confirmed in a statement from the palace published on the official news agency Saudi Press Agency.

Prince Turki was born in 1934 and was a son of Saudi Arabia’s founder, King Abdulaziz bin Saud. He was deputy minister of defense from 1968 to 1978 and was to be buried later on Saturday.

Prince Sultan bin Salman told AlArabiya.net that Prince Turki's death marks a big loss for Saudi Arabia for the nationalistic and noble principles that he stood for.

Photos of an emotional King Salman
...either the largest species of Pacific salmon or the current Sheikh of the Burnin' Sands, Cutodian of the Two Holy Mosquesand Lord of Most of the Arabians....
 leading funeral prayers for the late Prince Turki emerged online. He will be receiving condolences for three days from Saturday evening, the palace said.
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Arabia
Saudi prince returned from Europe against his will, say staff
2016-03-30
Staff working for a Saudi prince involved in high-profile legal proceedings against the Saudi government claim he has been taken to Saudi Arabia from Europe against his will.
The heart (urp!) bleeds...
Prince Sultan bin Turki, who has elaborate 24-hour protection, brought legal action in Switzerland against the Saudi government over a kidnapping in 2003, which he says left him with serious, ongoing medical problems.

On 1 February he and his entourage boarded a Saudi plane in Paris ostensibly bound for Cairo, where he had made plans to visit friends and his father, the Saudi king’s elder brother, who lives there. His aide made reservations at the Kempinski Hotel in Cairo’s Garden City district. But he never arrived.
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