Saudi Arabia: Post-War Issues and U.S. Relations Page: 4 of 19
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08-20-01
MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
On June 21, 2001, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced that a federal
grand jury had indicted 14 individuals in connection with the bombing attack on a U.S. Air
Force apartment complex at Khobar Towers on June 25, 1996. According to the Justice
Department, 13 of those indicted belong to the pro-Iranian Saudi Hizballah organization,
and the 14th is linked to the Lebanese Hizballah organization. (Saudi Hizballah appears to
be a chapter of the parent Hizballah organization in Lebanon.) According to the press, none
of the persons indicted is in U.S. custody at this time; 11 are reportedly in Saudi custody.
Although no Iranian is named or charged in the indictment, Ashcroft said "[t]he indictment
explains that elements of the Iranian government inspired, supported and supervised
members of Saudi Hizbollah [variant spelling]."
In an interview published on June 23, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef appeared
to rule out extradition of the suspects to the United States, stating that "[t]he trials must
take place before Saudi judicial authorities...." He added that "[n]o other entity has the
right to try or investigate any crimes occurring on Saudi lands."
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
Current Issues
Security in the Gulf Region Saudi Arabia in Brief
Saudi Arabia was a key member of Population (July 2000): 22,023,506*
the allied coalition that expelled Iraqi (includes 5,360,526 foreign residents)
forces from Kuwait in February 1991. Growth rate: 3.28%
Most Saudi military forces were Area: 1,945,000 sq. km. (750,965 sq.mi.)
committed to the allied effort; a senior (almost 3 times that of Texas)
Saudi army officer (Lt. General Khalid Ethnic Groups: (native Saudis only)
ben Sultan) acted as commander of the Arab 90% Afro-Asian 10%
Joint Arab-Islamic Force, which was a Religion: (native Saudis only)
Muslim 100% (Sunni 85-95%; Shi'ite 5-15%)
principal component of the coalition; and Litrac 195):
Literacy (1995):
Operation Desert Storm was staged 63% (male 72%, female 50%)
from Saudi territory. The joint force GDP: $142.7 billion (1999);
known as Peninsula Shield, comprising $164.8 billion (2000)
5,000 to 10,000 personnel drawn from Government Debt:
the armed forces of the six states of the Domestic (1999) $130 billion
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), is also External (1998) $4.3 billion
under Saudi command. Plans to expand Inflation: (-0.2%, 1998; -1.2%, 1999; 0%, 2000)
this small force have been underCRS-1
IB93113
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Prados, Alfred B. Saudi Arabia: Post-War Issues and U.S. Relations, report, August 20, 2001; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc816155/m1/4/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.