Defense experts have discovered a missile base in Saudi Arabia that may be targeting Israel and Iran with non-nuclear weapons.

IHS Jane’s Intelligence Review examined recent satellite imagery and found a previously unknown base housing Chinese-made surface-to-surface missiles.

Located at al-Watah, about 125 miles west-southwest of the capital of Riyadh, some of the base’s truck-based DF-3 missiles appear to be pointed towards the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, and others in the direction of Iran’s capital, Tehran.

The DF-3s were first developed in the 1970s and sold to the Saudi royal family in 1987. They are not remotely-guided, which means they must be positioned in the direction of their intended target.

Analysts at IHS Jane’s say the Saudis are currently planning to upgrade their missiles, even though the DF-3 can carry a nuclear warhead.

Saudi Arabia does not possess nuclear weapons. But Iran’s pursuit of such weapons may result in the Saudis developing their own nuclear arsenal.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

Saudi Arabia 'Targeting Iran and Israel with Ballistic Missiles' (by Colin Freeman, The Telegraph)

Report: Saudi Missile Base may be Targeting Israel, Iran (by Ariel Ben Solomon, Jerusalem Post)

Saudi Ballistic Missile Site Revealed (Sean O'Connor, IHS Jane's Defence Weekly)

Obama Steps Up Foreign Weapons Sales, Overwhelming Other Arms Makers (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)

Obama Approves $29 Billion Fighter Jet Sale from Boeing to Saudi Royal Family (by David Wallechinsky and Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)