Unusual Warning from Washington: Continued Protection of Israel in Question

The commander of the US Army's European Command, General Alexus Grynkewich, warned in a confidential letter to the Pentagon that a shortage of destroyers would force him to prioritize the defense of the US over the defense of Israel against Iranian ballistic missiles. The warning was published in the Washington Post on Saturday, amid the erosion of interceptor stockpiles and the operational strain of the war against Iran. The Pentagon, European Command, and the Israeli Embassy did not respond.

The commander of the US Army's European Command, General Alexus Grynkewich, warned this week in a formal and confidential letter to the Pentagon that he does not have sufficient naval forces to continue defending Israel against ballistic missile attacks from Iran. This is according to a report by the Washington Post published during the weekend. According to American officials, he wrote that without an additional destroyer, he would be forced to choose between defending the US homeland and continuing to defend Israel. An official at the US Department of Defense said this is an appeal consistent with previous cases where senior commanders warn of operational risks and demand additional resources. The Pentagon refused to comment, European Command did not respond to requests for comment, and the Israeli Embassy in Washington also did not respond. The warning comes against the backdrop of the ongoing war against Iran, following the collapse of peace talks between Washington and Tehran and the resumption of strikes. The fighting is eroding the US's stockpile of defense systems and burdening the US Navy, which is simultaneously enforcing the naval blockade on Iranian ports following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. US Navy destroyers operating in the eastern Mediterranean participate in the defense of Israel, using radar systems and interceptor missiles against Iranian missiles and other threats. European Command is also required to maintain readiness against Russia, which complicates the distribution of forces. The US Navy has five destroyers stationed at the port of Rota in Spain, but the high pace of combat has created a maintenance backlog that affects their availability. On Friday, only two destroyers were in the Mediterranean, while three others were docked in Rota. In the Arabian Sea, a large naval force operates, including two aircraft carriers and at least 15 warships, of which 11 are destroyers, participating in the blockade on Iran and securing navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.