<p>The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on an elite Saudi unit as well as a former intelligence official over their role in the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.</p>.<p>The Treasury Department said it would block assets and criminalize transactions with the Rapid Intervention Force, which a declassified intelligence report said was answerable to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as former intelligence official Ahmed al-Assiri.</p>.<p>"Those involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi must be held accountable," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/saudi-crown-prince-approved-khashoggi-murder-us-declassifies-intelligence-report-955810.html" target="_blank">Read | Saudi Crown Prince approved Khashoggi murder: US declassifies intelligence report</a></strong></p>.<p>"The United States stands united with journalists and political dissidents in opposing threats of violence and intimidation."</p>.<p>President Joe Biden declassified an intelligence report that found that Crown Prince Mohammed ordered the 2018 killing of Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.</p>.<p>The report said that seven of the 15 members of the hit squad belonged to the Rapid Intelligence Force.</p>.<p>Assiri, part of the crown prince's inner circle, was exonerated in a closed-door trial in Saudi Arabia that was sharply criticized by rights groups.</p>
<p>The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on an elite Saudi unit as well as a former intelligence official over their role in the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.</p>.<p>The Treasury Department said it would block assets and criminalize transactions with the Rapid Intervention Force, which a declassified intelligence report said was answerable to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as former intelligence official Ahmed al-Assiri.</p>.<p>"Those involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi must be held accountable," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/saudi-crown-prince-approved-khashoggi-murder-us-declassifies-intelligence-report-955810.html" target="_blank">Read | Saudi Crown Prince approved Khashoggi murder: US declassifies intelligence report</a></strong></p>.<p>"The United States stands united with journalists and political dissidents in opposing threats of violence and intimidation."</p>.<p>President Joe Biden declassified an intelligence report that found that Crown Prince Mohammed ordered the 2018 killing of Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.</p>.<p>The report said that seven of the 15 members of the hit squad belonged to the Rapid Intelligence Force.</p>.<p>Assiri, part of the crown prince's inner circle, was exonerated in a closed-door trial in Saudi Arabia that was sharply criticized by rights groups.</p>