(U) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
(U) This report is provided by the ODNI. Questions should be directed to the NIO for Near East.
█ We assess that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an
operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
• █ We base this assessment on the Crown Prince’s control of decisionmaking in the
Kingdom, the direct involvement of a key adviser and members of Muhammad bin Salman’s protective detail in the operation, and the Crown Prince’s support for using violent measures to silence dissidents abroad, including Khashoggi.
• █ Since 2017, the Crown Prince has had absolute control of the Kingdom’s security