Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov confirmed that Russia would supply Syria with P-800 Yakhont cruise missiles, Russian news agencies reported yesterday.

"We will supply Yakhont to Syria, we will fulfill the contract," Serdyukov was quoted as saying by ITAR-TASS news agency, adding that the contract was signed in 2007.

Serdyukov was speaking in Washington during a visit to the Pentagon.

Russia's arms sales and possible nuclear cooperation with Syria, which has close ties to Iran, is unnerving for the United States and Israel. Israel fears weapons being transferred to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Serdyukov described such fears as unjustified.