Moscow (CNSNews.com) - Israel and the United States have lashed out at a would-be arms deal between Russia and Syria, although Russian officials denied any plans to sell advanced missiles to Damascus or any strain in ties with Israel.

The deal would allegedly include Russian-made Igla SA-18 shoulder-held anti-craft missiles and Iskander-E ground-to-ground missiles. Israeli officials said Iskander missiles are described as highly accurate and are capable of reaching anywhere in that country.

The U.S. State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, said that the United States opposed would-be missile sales, adding that Washington could consider sanctions against Russia if it clinched the deal. "We are against the sale of lethal military equipment to Syria. The Russians know about this policy," he said.

However, Russia's defense minister, Sergei Ivanov, dismissed the reports on the arms deal on Thursday. Ivanov, on a visit to the U.S., said there had been no talks about missiles with Damascus. "We do not have any negotiations with Syria on the possible shipment of such missiles," he said.

Syrian President Bashar Assad is due to travel to Russia on Jan. 24. The Russian daily Kommersant claimed Wednesday that Israel recalled its ambassador from Moscow to protest the expected arms deal. Kommersant claimed that the crisis in Israel-Russian relations was due to Syrian interest in the Iskander missile.

Nonetheless, Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko dismissed media claims of a crisis in relations with Israel. Russia did not see any signs of deteriorating relations with that nation, he said. The Israeli embassy in Moscow also denied media reports about a crisis over military ties between Russia and Syria.

Israeli media outlets have reported that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had held an urgent government meeting and consulted the U.S. over relations with Moscow. Then the Israeli media was told that the meeting was precipitated by concern over recent "anti-Semitic statements" allegedly made by President Vladimir Putin.

Earlier this month, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that "a highly classified problem" between Russian and Israel, possibly related to Israeli spying activities, focused on Russian nuclear cooperation with Iran.

The Russian government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta said on Thursday that the alleged crisis had other components, apart from the missile issue. It said Israel was angry that Russian scientists are allegedly helping Iran create new weapons.

Russia was also reportedly upset over alleged Israeli funding of newly elected Ukrainian leader Viktor Yushchenko, according to Israeli media reports. Israel was also backing elements in Russia's opposition movement, the reports said.

See Earlier Story:
Sharon Asks Putin Not to Sell Missiles to Syria (Jan. 13, 2005)

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