Saudis Inaugurate Country’s Biggest Military Complex

Saudi Arabian King Fahd on Saturday inaugurated his country’s biggest military showpiece, a $5-billion military complex in the northeastern desert, the official Saudi press agency reported.

The King Khaled Military City, built at Hafar al Batin near the Kuwaiti and Iraqi borders, lies just 190 miles from Iran.

The Ministry of Defense and Aviation said the complex can hold 50,000 people, including three military brigades. It is a self-contained city, complete with businesses, schools and medical facilities.

Arab diplomats said it features an underground operations room for the army, navy and air force, as well as a military training center.

Saudi Arabia is the leading member of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, formed largely in response to the 1979 Iranian revolution on the other side of the Persian Gulf.