Israel irked by Iran-Russia military ties

Russia's SA-3 Goa surface-to-air missile system

Israel has urged Russia to turn a blind eye to its military deals with Georgia and to halt its sale of advanced weapons to Iran and Syria.

The Israeli appeal to Russia followed the conflict in the Caucasus which started with Georgia's military offensive into independence-seeking South Ossetia to reclaim the de-facto region.

Russia has accused the US and Israel of orchestrating the conflict and supporting Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in carrying out the assault.

According to the Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv, Israel has supplied the government of Saakashvili with $300 million in armaments, including sophisticated spy drones, rockets and equipment useful in modernizing combat jets.

Israel's ambassador to the United States, Sallai Meridor, however, said Russia should not express its anger with Israel over its support of the Georgian government as a pretext for selling weapons to its 'adversaries'.

Meridor claims that Russian arms sales to Iran and Syria is 'destabilizing and dangerous for Israel.'

Intelligence officials maintain that the war of words between the Kremlin and the White House over the Caucasus crisis has prompted Russia to sell its missiles to both Iran and Syria.

Iran, however, has denied reports that it has purchased the advanced Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft defense system. More