I am no expert on Saudi Arabia...but why would they need American mercenaries to do that kind of work? Isn’t it more plausible the source is an enemy of the ruling Prince who is happy to falsely claim they are being tortured by American infidels in order to get the population there more upset about it?
That it isn’t British, or Saudi locals but specifically American mercenaries makes this smell of bullshite.
“why would they need American mercenaries to do that kind of work?”
Maybe a lot of locals are afraid to make an enemy of these guys. Princes and billionaires can very credibly threaten to get even with them later, in a way that would make Cersei Lannister blush.
Im guessing the new king is trying to get brownie points from the west on terrorism in exchange for oil concessions...