LONDON Ñ Iraq has expanded and restored a range of military production lines throughout the country.

Opposition sources said the factories are meant to produce missile components and nonconventional weapons. Many of the plants are believed located near the Jordanian and Syrian borders.

So far, at least eight factories have been operating at full production. The sources said the effort began early this year and by June the plants were churning out components and subsystems required for Iraqi military and strategic programs.

The effort is being led by Kusay Hussein, the younger son of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Kusay is said to be Saddam's heir.

One plant is located at Al Qayem, near the Jordanian and Syrian borders. Western intelligence sources said this plant focuses on chemical warheads for ballistic missiles.

The sources said the missile production is being presented as coming under the 150 kilometer-ceiling set by the United Nations. But the development programs are meant to easily increase the range of the missile to that of up to 650 kilometers.

Last month, CIA deputy director John McLaughlin said Iraq is hiding an arsenal of missiles with a range of 650 kilometers. These missiles, he said, can target Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

"Iraq has rebuilt several critical missile production sites," McLaughlin said. "The Iraqi missiles allowed under UN constraints can target Kuwait, but not Teheran, Riyad, or Manama. These could easily be upgraded to greater ranges, however."

On Tuesday, U.S. F-16 and F-18 warplanes bombed anti-aircraft installations in northern and southern Iraq. The attack was the fourth in 11 days. Hours later, several Iraqis were injured when a bomb exploded in a major market in Baghdad. Iraqi officials said the attack was sponsored by Iran.

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