US Naval Warning on Israel Defense
General Grynkewich warns of destroyer shortage, forcing a choice between defending the US homeland and Israel against Iranian missiles.
US Naval Warning on Israel Defense — General Alexus Grynkewich, in a confidential letter to the Pentagon this week, warned that he does not have sufficient naval forces to continue defending Israel against ballistic missile attacks from Iran.[^1] The dilemma is stark: a shortage of destroyers would force him to prioritize the defense of the US over the defense of Israel.[^2] On Friday, only two destroyers were in the Mediterranean, though the US Navy has five stationed at the port of Rota in Spain.[^3] Israeli sources diverge on the warning's meaning. israelhayom and cursor frame it as a consequence of operational fleet overload after the war with Iran, while ynet introduces skepticism, quoting a source who compares the letter to typical general-officer resource battles, thereby downplaying the drama.[^4] kan adds that THAAD systems and destroyers are key to Israel's defense, heightening the threat's significance, whereas davar omits this context. c14 alone mentions the erosion of interceptor stocks and the absence of comments from the Pentagon and Israel's embassy, underscoring the secrecy and seriousness. Israel's leadership has officially denied plans to resume large-scale hostilities and stated that Israel has not received requests to participate in military operations against Iran. Yet the naval warning arrives amid heightened alert, with Tehran threatening that the 'Zionist regime is in the crosshairs.' The question is whether Washington's commitment can stretch across two theaters, or whether Israel must prepare for a more solitary defense. Shabbat café standoff: Liberman vs. ultra-Orthodox protesters — Dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters attempted to break into the 'Basmeta' café on Agrippas Street in Jerusalem on Saturday, prompting police to use batons to block the attempt, though no arrests were made.[^1] A female Border Police officer was assaulted during the confrontation.[^1] Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman arrived at the scene, with one protester shouting at him, 'Go back to communist Russia.'[^2] Liberman responded in a video: 'It cannot be that drinking coffee on Saturday morning becomes an act of civil courage.'[^2] He added that