Thaindian News

WASHINGTON D.C. (BNO NEWS) – Russia on Friday announced that it will provide missiles to Syria as agreed in a 2007 deal, despite protests by both the United States and Israel, media reports said.

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said that Russia plans to go ahead with the deal to sell P-800 Yakhont supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria. The announcement was made after the Russian official met with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and other Pentagon officials.

“It is the 2007 contract. The issue of selling highly accurate missiles to Syria was raised during the talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Undoubtedly, the contract would be fulfilled by the Russian side,” Serdyukov said.

The United States and Israel have expressed their opposition of selling missiles to Syria as the Asian country is considered by the both sides as a potential threat. Israel said last August that the possible purchase of missiles by Syria represents a danger to the Israeli Navy vessels in the Mediterranean Sea.

“Lately, some Israeli media outlets have been actively disseminating information distorting Russia’s position on the implementation of its obligations to Syria, including in the sphere of military and technical cooperation. I would like to stress that the Russian Federation honors all the agreements that were previously signed between Russia and Syria,” said Sergei Prikhodko, a senior adviser to the Russian President.

The P-800 Yakhont missiles, or P-800 Oniks, have a range of 300 kilometers. They carry a 200-kilogram warhead and feature a unique ability to cruise several meters above the surface which makes them very difficult to detect and intercept.