RIYADH, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) — Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud replaced several top military commanders in a series of royal decrees, the state media reported Monday.

The military's chief of staff and the heads of ground and air forces were terminated. Fayyad al-Ruwaili had been appointed as Chief of Staff in replacement of Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, who was retired.

The king also named new personnel at several ministries, including selecting a woman as deputy minister for labor.

The major shakeup was carried out on recommendation of Minister of Defense Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the throne and the son of the monarch.

The changes came in the midst of an ever-worsening conflict in Yemen.

A Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government has been fighting the Huthis since 2015.