Saudi crown prince reassures public about king’s health

By Ibrahim Al-Khazen

RIYADH – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reassured the public on Tuesday about the health of King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

“The well-being of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, is reassuring,” bin Salman said during a cabinet session cited by the state news agency SPA.

He expressed wishes for a speedy recovery for the 88-year-old monarch, who recently underwent treatment for pneumonia.

Bin Salman also expressed his gratitude to those concerned and inquired about the king’s health.

King Salman was diagnosed with a lung infection and underwent treatment involving antibiotics, the Saudi Royal Court announced late Sunday.

“After undergoing a medical examination at the Royal Clinics at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has been diagnosed with lung inflammation,” the court said.

“The medical team has prescribed a course of antibiotics for his treatment,” it added.

Last month, the Saudi king underwent routine examinations at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Jeddah, where he spent several hours before he was discharged.

In May 2022, the monarch was admitted to the hospital for a colonoscopy and other medical tests. He also underwent a gallbladder removal surgery in 2020.

King Salman has been ruling Saudi Arabia since 2015 after spending two and a half years as a crown prince.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio