The U.S. Department of Defense is highly concerned over Russia's intention to supply Yakhont missiles to Syria, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell has said.
Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov saidlast week that Russia would honor a 2007 contract on the delivery of P-800 Yakhont supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles to Syria, despite U.S. and Israel security concerns.
Serdyukov said he had discussed the issue with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
On Monday, Gates told his Israeli colleague Ehud Barak during a private meeting that the deal may "further destabilize" the region, Morrell told reporters in Washington.
The P-800 Yakhont missiles (known as P-800 Oniks in Russia) have a range of 300 kilometers, carry a 200-kilogram warhead and feature a unique ability to cruise several meters above the surface, making it difficult to detect and intercept them.
Israeli authorities have expressed a strong concern over the increase of Syrian defensive potential, as well as over a threat of transferring weapons to Lebanese or Palestinian radicals.
RIA Novosti
