Washington (CNN) The son of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has left Saudi Arabia and arrived in the United States, a source close to the family told CNN.

Salah bin Jamal Khashoggi, a dual US-Saudi citizen, had previously been unable to leave Saudi Arabia after his passport was restricted by the kingdom some months ago.

A State Department spokesman said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the Saudis to release the younger Khashoggi and deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said the US was "pleased" that he was allowed to leave the country.

Salah Khashoggi is the eldest son of The Washington Post columnist whom Saudis officials now admit was killed in a pre-meditated murder carried out by a squad of men, some of whom had close ties to the country's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Initially, Saudi Arabia denied all knowledge of Khashoggi's disappearance inside its consulate in Istanbul.



Saudi officials later announced it had identified 18 men involved in the operation, leading the State Department to announce it was freezing visas for 21 Saudi nationals. On Thursday, Palladino said the additional three people targeted by the US belonged to Saudi Arabia's intelligence services, royal court and a government ministry.

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