Mattis: I do not think CIA identified those responsible for Khashoggi’s killing

US Defense Secretary James Mattis said he does not think the CIA had identified those responsible for Jamal Khashoggi’s killing and that his country looks forward to turn this page.

Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon Wednesday, Mattis added, "I do not think they have been fully identified either by the CIA or the Saudi government.”

James Mattis says just as the U.S. should never apologize for “its support for human rights, it should not have to apologize for working with Saudi Arabia for what the good of innocent people.”

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Mattis said that while believes the U.S. should hold accountable the individual Saudis who were involved in killing journalist Jamal Khashoggi, he also thinks it would be a mistake to cut ties with the Saudi government.

There's two primary thrust lines. One is accountability for anyone involved …on the other hand, if we're going to stop a war in Yemen, we're going to have to deal with Saudi Arabia. There's no way not to.”

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Mattis credited the Saudi government with making humanitarian gestures, including allowing some wounded Houthi rebels to be moved to hospitals, and putting up $500 million, along with the United Arab Emirates, to feed Yemeni’s starving population.

Those actions helped paved the way for peace talks to be held in Sweden in early December, Mattis said.