Late last month Brigadier General Zakariyya Mansoor, who also serves as the director general of counter terrorism at the Ministry of Defence, was appointed as the commander of the Aviation Security Command.

The defence ministry had earlier denied media reports that Zakariyya had also replaced the Chief of Defence Force Brigadier General Ahmed Shiyam, who was said to have retired from active duty.

A reshuffling of senior positions within the military has followed the dismissal of defence minister Colonel (retired) Mohamed Nazim last month in relation to dangerous weapons charges.