A former Saudi official has alleged that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman forged his father's signature on the royal decree that initiated the kingdom's ongoing war against Yemen's Houthi rebels. The ex-official, Saad al-Jabri, made these claims in an interview with the BBC, where he stated that a reliable source within the Saudi Interior Ministry confirmed the forgery.
Al-Jabri, who currently resides in Canada after falling out with the Saudi government, has been embroiled in a dispute with the kingdom, with his two children reportedly imprisoned in an attempt to coerce him back to Saudi Arabia.
The Yemen war, which began in 2015 under Prince Mohammed's leadership, was promised to be a swift operation but has since dragged on for nearly a decade, resulting in over 150,000 deaths and a severe humanitarian crisis. Al-Jabri's allegations suggest that Prince Mohammed signed the decree for the war in place of his father, King Salman, whose mental capacity was reportedly deteriorating at the time.
Furthermore, al-Jabri claimed that Prince Mohammed had considered assassinating former King Abdullah using a poison ring from Russia. These allegations come amidst a broader crackdown on dissent and perceived threats to the crown prince's authority.
Al-Jabri's legal representative in the U.S. did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter. The ongoing conflict in Yemen has not only resulted in a staggering loss of life but has also led to disruptions in shipping routes through the Red Sea, with the Houthi rebels targeting vessels in the region.
Prince Mohammed's consolidation of power in Saudi Arabia has been marked by a series of controversial decisions and actions, including the replacement of former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef in 2017. Al-Jabri's accusations against the crown prince underscore the deep-seated tensions within the Saudi royal family and the broader implications of the Yemen conflict.
