Is Saudi Arabia expanding its ballistic missile programme?
Detailed summary
Is Saudi Arabia expanding its ballistic missile programme? Saudi Arabia is believed to be expanding its Chinese-designed ballistic missile arsenal as it faces an unprecedented…
Saudi Arabia is believed to be expanding its Chinese-designed ballistic missile arsenal as it faces an unprecedented barrage of missile and drone attacks from Yemen's Houthi forces.
Satellite imagery analysed by American researchers suggests the kingdom is expanding its ballistic missile plant at al-Duwadimi in Riyadh Province to build larger solid-fuel missiles capable of carrying heavier payloads across greater distances.
Fighting between the kingdom and the Iran-aligned Yemeni group has intensified since July, shattering a UN-brokered truce that had largely held since 2022.
The Houthis have stepped up missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities, airports and energy infrastructure, retaliating for what they call a Saudi "blockade" of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
Analysts have told Middle East Eye that the renewed confrontation with the Houthis has given the kingdom's arsenal added significance.
Opening of the article, excerpted from Middle East Eye. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.
MarketNews shows the headline and summary published by the outlet. The full article is on the publisher's website. (www.middleeasteye.net)
