CAIRO –  Security officials say Egypt’s powerful intelligence chief has been removed and replaced by his deputy.

Gen. Mohammed Farid el-Tohamy was put in charge of the intelligence agency immediately after the military ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in July 2013.

El-Tohamy was viewed as a longtime mentor of Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who as army chief forced Morsi out and was elected president this June.

Officials said late Saturday that el-Tohamy, who was in his mid 60s, was relieved of his post for health reasons. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has yet to be made.

The new intelligence chief is Khaled Fawzy, a longtime intelligence officer, who heads the national security agency.