July 31st, 2012
The Paris-based Voltaire Network confirmed the death of 63-year-old Prince Bandar on its website on Monday, citing unofficial sources.
The international non-profit organization, which publishes a free website (voltairenet.org) in eight languages, said that Prince Bandar was killed because of his role in the July 18 deadly bombing in Damascus.
Excerpt from Voltaire Network’s article,
Syria reportedly eliminated Bandar bin Sultan in retaliation for Damascus bombing
“Though not yet announced by the Saudi authorities, the death of Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been confirmed to Voltaire Network by unofficial souces.Prince Bandar had just been appointed head of Saudi intelligence on July 24: a promotion which was interpreted as a reward for having organized the attack in Damascus on July 18. The Saudi services, with logistical support from the CIA, had managed to blow up the headquarters of the Syrian National Security during a Crisis Cell meeting: Generals Assef Chaoukat, Daoud Rajha and Hassan Tourkmani were killed instantly. General Amin Hicham Ikhtiar died soon after from his wounds. This operation, called “Damascus Volcano” was the signal for the attack on the capital by a swarm of mercenaries, mainly coming from Jordan.Prince Bandar was himself the target of a bomb attack on July 26, and subsequently succumbed to his injuries.” [1].
….
His death constitutes a serious blow to the whole system of Western covert action in the Muslim world. It took Syria only one week to mount this spectacular reprisal operation.
The bombing killed at least four high-profile Syrian security officials, including Defense Minister Dawoud Rajiha and his deputy Assef Shawkat who was also President Bashar al-Assad’s brother-in-law.
However, there has been no confirmation or denial neither from Saudi officials nor from the Syrian government yet.
Bandar, who was Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005, was named the kingdom’s Secretary General of the National Security Council in 2005. On 19 July 2012, he was appointed Director General of the Saudi Intelligence Agency by King Abdullah.
Many said his promotion was a reward for the role he played in organizing the attack in Damascus, the organization reported.
Some speculate that the report of his assassination was invented to protect him from the high risk he faces based on his suspected role in orchestrating the Damascus top regime bombing.
Story link: http://presstv.com/detail/2012/07/31/253594/new-saudi-spymaster-killed-report/
featured image: http://www.samefacts.com; story image: mole.my
other ref: http://disquietreservations.blogspot.com/2012/07/unofficial-reports-al-qaedas-chief.html
