Posted on 12/23/2021 11:31:23 AM PST by elpadre
Saudi Arabia has started building its own ballistic missiles with China's help at a top secret base, US intelligence and satellite images have revealed.
It is the first time the Gulf state has managed to manufacture its own weapons of the class, though it has purchased ballistic missiles from China in the past. The development is likely to threaten the balance of power in the Middle East cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran and could derail negotiations to revive Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with the US.
New satellite images dated between October 26 and November 6, 2021 show a base capable of building ballistic missiles near Dawadmi in central Saudi Arabia. The pictures, reviewed by CNN, were described by sources familiar with the latest intelligence as the first unambiguous evidence' that Saudi Arabia has the capability to produce ballistic missiles.
It was not immediately clear exactly how Saudi Arabia gained access to sensitive ballistic missile technology but the report said senior US officials had been briefed on intelligence showing China had shared the information. Satellite images have revealed that Saudi Arabia has started building its own ballistic missiles with China's help at a top secret base.
The Dawadmi site, in central Saudi Arabia, which was built with Chinese help, features a 'burn pit' for the disposal of solid-propellant used in the manufacture of ballistic missiles.
Saudi Arabia's development of ballistic missiles (pictured, in Iran in January 15) is likely to threaten the balance of power in the Middle East cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran and could derail negotiations to revive Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with the US Experts who reviewed the images, taken by commercial imaging firm Planet, said the Dawadmi site was consistent with a missile manufacturing plant.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
and some more:
“...n November 2020, Saudi Arabia’s then-foreign minister warned it would develop nuclear weapons if Iran became a nuclear power.
Adel al-Jubeir said it was ‘definitely an option’ for the Middle-Eastern state to develop nuclear capabilities if its rival Iran could not be stopped from making one, adding that other countries would likely do the same.
The latest revelation comes after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fired ballistic and cruise missiles on Tuesday during war games in the Gulf.
‘The use of ballistic missiles by the Revolutionary Guards’ navy is a new concept ... and they hit their targets with 100% precision,’ Guards chief General Hossein Salami told the broadcaster.
Iran has said its ballistic missiles have a range of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) and are capable of reaching arch-foe Israel, Saudi Arabia and US bases in the region.”
This is unsurprising, frankly. When you have the kind of money that the Saudis have, you can buy anything.
If true let the games begin.
President Retard set off a chain reaction by abandoning our friends and coddling his buddies in Iran like John Kerry wants 🤪
Let ‘em fight. We have all the oil we need
Certainly if your arch-enemy (Iran) is run by a bunch of terrorists, you have not just a right, but a duty, to protect your homeland and people. My only problem is how China will demand their pound of flesh from the Saudi’s.
I speculate that China is working to defeat (Iran), a competitor for control of the middle east.
Our friends the Saudis...
This is the result of our government’s decision to end the 60 year strategic relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia. The guys in Washington are pathetically incompetent.
Wrote a graduate school paper on this a decade plus ago......and I am not giving the exact title out nor where it can be found via an internet search, but major deja vu here.
If they’re gonna nuke Iran with them, I don’t see a downside.
The development is likely to threaten the balance of power in the Middle East cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran and could derail negotiations to revive Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with the US.
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Good news for a change from the ME.
“If true let the games begin.”
Yes, a happy thought.
Nations do not have friends—they have interests. The USA under Biden is an untrustworthy friend at best—even with massive bribes to political leaders, sad to say. For the right price we would sell out England as we did France.
Nations do not have friends—they have interests. The USA under Biden is an untrustworthy friend at best—even with massive bribes to political leaders, sad to say. For the right price we would sell out England as we did France.
“This is unsurprising, frankly. When you have the kind of money that the Saudis have, you can buy anything.”
SA has some serious money issues. Looking at what some individuals buy is not the same as understanding what economic issues the country is facing. SA wouldn’t be doing this if they didn’t feel a very real threat from Iran. SA has a significantly smaller population than Iran and their military, though really well equipped, doesn’t function outside of air-conditioning. I’d judge Iran’s military as significantly better led and likely to win any given conflict. SA want’s a devastating punch that can be thrown from inside a bunker. And I doubt they would build missiles unless they had or have plans to acquire nuclear weapons. If they wait until Iran has the weapons and then spend years getting a counter, they will end up a radioactive waste land.
Just think of the 3-way war that could break out...
You have the major Islamic Countries, with Iran being Shiite and SA being Sunni, thrown the Jewish State of Israel into the mix and you have a potential 3-way nuclear war...
Israel has the bomb, Iran is soon to have the bomb and SA will get a bomb from somewhere.
All 3 either have or will have a delivery system.
Let the fun and games begin..
Let the Chicoms have the Middle East. They can occupy the region like they do Tibet. Let them deal with the suicide bombers. There’s millions of chicoms to spare and they’ll keep the moozlems under control. No one will know about their casualties.
They seem quite capable of suppressing muslims in China, so yeah, maybe a good approach.
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