Aya Batrawi

Palestinian reports say he was killed Thursday in a dispute with a local family.

NPR couldn't reach Abu Shabeb's deputy for comment, but an Israeli defense official told NPR Israel believes he's been killed.

Aya Batrawi, NPR News, Dubai.

The biggest deal that's being eyed right now by Prince Mohammed bin Salman isn't actually more billions in weapons sales.

He has enough of those.

What he wants is a US guarantee against a range of threats in the region.

And that means a coveted US defense pact similar to the one Trump signed with Qatar recently after it was attacked by both Iran and Israel over the summer.

And this is not a defense treaty, so it doesn't need Congress to approve it, and it is less binding.

But it does offer Saudi Arabia guarantees that the U.S.

would use military measures if necessary to respond if it's attacked.

Trump says the Saudi crown prince is going to be honored on this visit.

The two leaders have built a close relationship over the years, and the president has praised him as a, quote, great guy and described him as a visionary leader.

That's despite a continued crackdown on critics in the kingdom.

This will be Prince Mohammed's first visit back to the U.S.

since the killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi by the prince's aides seven years ago.

The CIA says the prince had knowledge of the operation, which he denies.

He returns to Washington now with power consolidated at home and top U.S.

CEOs eager for more business with the kingdom.

The prince wants a U.S.

defense pact, new deals in AI, and he's eyeing the purchase of advanced F-35 jets that only Israel currently flies in the Mideast.