Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
The CIA claims that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in messages he sent to leader of killing squad, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.
"At least 11 messages to his closest adviser, who oversaw the team that killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in the hours before and after the journalist’s death in October,” it said, citing a classified CIA assessment.
The crown prince told his close circle last August that if they failed to bring back Khashoggi "we could lure him outside Saudi Arabia and make arrangements".
Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist working for The Washington Post, was killed shortly after he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
A joint Saudi-Emirati delegation made up of intelligence officers and politicians vowed to finance the U.S.’s so-called “observation posts” along the border with Turkey in northeast Syria. As Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman continues to step up hostilities against Turkey, senior Saudi and Emirati military officials pledged to increase financial support to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror organization in Syria after visiting the region occupied by the U.S.-backed terrorists.30,000 terrorists on Saudi-Emirati payroll Saudi Minister Samir Sabhan, who’s in charge of Middle East affairs, headed the joint Saudi-Emirati delegation after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump’s Special Representative Brett McGurk. During the meeting, the two sides agreed to provide funding, training, weapons and ammo to some 30,000 terrorists of the so-called “border guards,” who will be tasked with manning U.S. observations posts.UAE, Saudi Arabia dispatch troops to east of the Euphrates in SyriaPKK terrorists are seizing Turkmen lands in the region under the pretext of establishing U.S. bases along the border. The joint Saudi and Emirati delegation vowed to cover the cost of the establishment of the border corridor’s observation posts. In the meantime, the two Gulf countries started to openly support the PKK terror organization as their soldiers were spotted on a battlefield in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor.PKK digs tunnels near the border PKK terrorists dug a 20-kilometer tunnel along the border with Turkey under the ruse of redeploying closer to the border under the pretext of setting up U.S. observations posts. The tunnels, which were dug near the Ras al-Ayn region, are located just two kilometers from the border with Turkey. Work on digging the tunnels began near the Douweyra village and extended all the way through the regions of Aziziyah and Abu Sawn to the town of Tal Khanzir.FSA ‘ready’ to conduct ops east of Euphrates: CommanderThe U.S. dispatched vehicles and equipment to the region throughout the digging and construction period as the resulting structures bear striking resemblance to those found in Afrin, which have been turned into weapons and munitions depots. The PKK’s ultimate goal is to dig tunnels that extend 150 kilometers along with the border with Turkey, and hinder the advance of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) through the level grounds in the case of a possible operation in the area. At least seven PKK terrorists working at the digging site were killed in a landslide on Tuesday.
Saudi, UAE step up support for PKK terrorists in northeast Syria
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was sidelined during the official "family photo" of world leaders and other dignitaries at the Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires on Friday, standing at the far edge of the group portrait and ignored.Prince Mohammed's presence at the international summit has been contentious following the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.The crown prince, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, quickly exited the stage without shaking hands or talking with other leaders.At center stage was Argentine President Mauricio Macri, hosting this year's summit of G20 industrialized nations.Macri has said accusations that Prince Mohammed was involved in Khashoggi's death could be discussed by world leaders during the two-day summit. Saudi Arabia has said the prince had no prior knowledge of the murder.Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prince Mohammed later exchanged a high-five and a handshake and laughed heartily as they took seats next to each other in the main meeting room. 
Saudi Crown Prince sidelined in G20 family photo
After weeks of saying he had left the consulate alive, the Saudi administration later admitted he was killed there, blaming his death on a group of rogue Saudi operatives.
According to the CIA document, the messages were sent to Saud al-Qahtani, who was the top aide of the crown prince.
“Qahtani supervised the 15-man team that killed Mr. Khashoggi and, during the same period, was also in direct communication with the team’s leader in Istanbul, the assessment says,” the Journal reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman exchanged a high-five and laughed heartily together on Friday as they took seats next to each other at a plenary session of the Group of 20 summit.Putin's friendly behaviour towards the crown prince contrasted sharply with that of other leaders at the Buenos Aires summit, amid suspicions of his possible involvement in the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.Saudi Arabia has said the prince had no prior knowledge of the murder, which has sorely tested the kingdom's relations with the United States, other Western nations and Turkey.Earlier, Prince Mohammed was sidelined during the official "family photo" of world leaders at Friday's gathering and was largely ignored. He then quickly exited the stage without shaking hands or talking with the other leaders.Video: Putin, bin Salman high five at G20Russia has refrained from criticising Saudi Arabia or the crown prince over the killing. Putin said in October he lacked information about the matter and said Russia would not tear up its relations with Saudi Arabia because of it.However, Moscow has also fostered strong ties with Saudi Arabia's regional arch foe Iran. Russia and Iran back President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's civil war, while Saudi Arabia along with Western countries have backed some rebel groups.Putin and Prince Mohammed are due to hold bilateral talks on Saturday, according to Kremlin documents seen by Reuters.The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries as well as Russia and other leading oil producers will meet in Vienna on Dec 6-7 to discuss further steps on the oil market as prices have been declining due to oversupply.Riyadh has suggested OPEC and its allies reduce output by 1 million barrels per day from January 2019 to stem the price falls.
Putin warmly greets Saudi crown prince at G20 summit
The U.S. in November put sanctions on 17 people tied to the killing of Khashoggi, including al-Qahtani.
In the following days, the CIA concluded that Khashoggi's murder was ordered by the Saudi crown prince.
Rejecting the reports, U.S. President Donald Trump, who is accused of close ties with bin Salman, said "may be he did and maybe he didn't".
French President Emmanuel Macron told Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Friday that international experts need to be involved in the investigations into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to French media reports.Macron’s remarks came during a five-minute exchange with Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the two-day G20 Leaders’ Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina.Citing an Elysee official, reports said Macron also stressed the need to find a political solution to the situation in Yemen.“You never listen to me,” Macron is heard telling bin Salman in a short video clip of their meeting posted on the Saudi Gazette newspaper’s Twitter account.“I will listen, of course,” bin Salman replied.Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist working for The Washington Post, was killed shortly after he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After saying he had left the consulate alive, Saudi Arabia admitted weeks later that he was killed there, blaming his death on a group of rogue Saudi operatives.Senate stepping up criticism of Saudi Arabia: NYTUK PM urges Saudis to cooperate with Turkey
Macron says global experts needed for Khashoggi probes
British Prime Minister Theresa May said she would be robust when she talks to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G20 summit in Argentina later on Friday about the killing of Jamal Khashoggi and the situation in Yemen."I am going to speak to the crown prince of Saudi Arabia but it is the relationship we have with Saudi Arabia that enables me to sit down with him and be robust on our views on two issues," May told Sky News in an interview on Friday.She said she would tell him that the investigation into Khashoggi's killing must be full and credible and that those responsible must be held to account.Regarding Yemen, she said she would encourage him to find a political solution."We believe that now is the time, there is an opportunity to find a solution, to come to a political solution because that is the way to ensure the future and a safe and secure future for the people of the Yemen," she said. UK PM May to hold bilateral meeting with Saudi crown princeUS Senate defied Trump on Saudi ties, but may falter in next steps
UK PM May to be robust with Saudi Crown Prince on Khashoggi killing