Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia has lost its king at a time  of increasing tensions with Iran.

Saudi King Abdullah died after being hospitalized for more than three weeks for what was termed pneumonia. The king, said to be as old as 98, was succeeded by his half-brother, Crown Prince Salman.

“He [Abdullah] passed away at exactly 1 a.m., Friday,” a royal statement said.

In the statement on Jan. 23, Salman, said to be 80, was named the new king. The statement said a formal pledge of allegiance to Salman, also defense minister, would take place later in Riyad. Salman was said to be suffering from dementia.

The statement said Prince Muqrin would become the new crown prince. In March 2014, Muqrin was named to the new post of deputy crown prince as well as deputy prime minister.

Since his hospitalization, the royal court insisted that the king’s life was not in danger. But Western diplomatic sources said Abdullah, who led a proxy war against Iran, was dying and only his sons were allowed to see him.

The sources said Abdullah, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia since 1995, functioned until the last few weeks of his life. They said Abdullah, despite cancer and other ailments, approved all major decisions, particularly in the field of defense and energy.

  80, backed by new Crown Prince Muqrin, Saudi King Abdullah was hands on until death; Salman, WorldTribune.com