Saudi prince approves killing of journalist Khashoggi: US report

- Increasing pressure on the Biden administration to hold the royal family responsible for the killings

Washington, Ta. Saturday, February 27, 2021

The US Central Intelligence Agency has made a key claim in the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and directly blamed Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. U.S. officials believe the Saudi prince approved the "capture or kill" journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi High Commission in Istanbul.

Pressure on the ruling Biden administration in the United States to hold the royal family responsible for the killings could increase after the report came to light. This is the first time the US has publicly named a Saudi prince in the case. Khashoggi died on October 2, 2018, and has since sparked international outrage with both US political parties. Khashoggi was considered a fierce critic of Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. However, this conclusion has not yet been officially made public.

The report comes just days after US President Joe Biden had a courtesy call on King Salman of Saudi Arabia. However, a statement from the White House did not comment on the allegations. It said the two had discussed a long-term partnership between the two countries.