Biden approves airstrike on Iran backed militias in Syria

US President Joe Biden has spoken with King Salman of Saudi Arabia on phone as he seeks to put relations with America’s old ally on a new footing.

He affirmed the importance the US places on universal human rights and the rule of law.

Biden made the call after reading a forthcoming US report into the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The report, due to be released shortly, is expected to implicate the king’s son, crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, pursued closer ties with Saudi Arabia.