TEL AVIV Ñ Saudi Arabia has constructed a desert city around a complex for the deployment
of long-range missiles.
The Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot reported on Wednesday that the complex
was built in the Al Sulial desert about 500 kilometers south of the capital
Riyad. The complex contains huge missile silos, residential areas and
factories in King Khaled City, Middle East Newsline reported.
The newspaper published photographs from the Ikonos satellite of what
was identified as two missile bases and a complex of 33 buildings, eight of
them capable of storing Chinese long-range missiles. Yediot identified the
missiles as the CSS-2, reported to have a range of between 2,500 and 3,500
kilometers. The missile, 24 meters long, is capable of carrying a
nonconventional warhead.
Yediot said the United States has
raised the construction of the missile facility with Riyad.
Saudi leaders
were said to have told Washington that the CSS-2 would not be tipped with
nonconventional warheads and that the facility was required to deter
neighboring Iran and Iran.
The Saudi military has expanded the missile complex since 1995, when a
French Spot satellite photographed the area. Riyad received deliveries of
the CSS2 in 1990 as part of a deal for up to 120 missiles and 12 launchers.
The military city is located near a Saudi Air Force base where the
British Tornado fighter-jet is deployed.
