Unconfirmed reports are emerging from the Middle East and Europe that Saudi Arabia’s intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has been assassinated.

The Voltaire Network of Paris reported that Bandar was killed in a bomb attack on July 26. He was apparently murdered by Syrian operatives in retaliation for his alleged role in the July 18 bombing in Damascus which killed four of President Bashar al-Assad’s inner circle, including Defense Minister Dawoud Rajiha and his deputy Assef Shawkat.

However, neither Saudi nor Syrian sources have confirmed the alleged assassination.

The Prince was a familiar figure in the U.S. since he served as Saudi ambassador to the US from 1983 until 2005. He was appointed Saudi intelligence chief earlier this month, reportedly a reward for having orchestrated the Damascus attack.