The reason for King Fahd secret exit from Saudi Arabia, followed by a large royal party (see earlier DEBKAfile World Exclusive on this page),
is believed by our most reliable sources to be a palace revolution sparked by differences in the royal family over support
for the US offensive against Afghanistan, Osama Bin Laden’s terror network and other rogue targets.
King Fahd and his Sudeiri faction, including defense minister Sultan, were in favor of letting the US place assault forces in forward bases on Saudi soil;
the conservative, religious Crown Prince Abdullah, who runs the kingdom since King Fahd became ill, overruled him, backed by the religious establishment.
