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U.S. officials said the changes would allow the Saudi air force to deploy its fleet of F-15 fighter-jets anywhere in the kingdom. They said this would include the deployment of the F-15 in the Saudi air force base of Tabuk, about 150 kilometers from Israel.
Congress was notified of the lifting of the U.S. restrictions in early 2003, the officials said. They said Israel was also told that Saudi F-15S aircraft could operate from Tabuk.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has sent a letter to Congress regarding the lifting of the U.S. restrictions on the F-15 in Saudi Arabia, officials said. The letter cited the Saudi need to defend its air space amid the deterioration of its aging F-5 and Tornado fleets.
