The top US commander in Europe privately warned the Pentagon that he lacks enough naval forces to keep defending Israel from ballistic missile attacks, The Washington Post reported on Saturday.
Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, head of US European Command, told senior Pentagon officials that without another Navy destroyer, he would have to prioritise defence of the US “homeland” over Israel, according to officials.
A US defence official said the warning follows a common practice in which senior commanders alert the Pentagon when resource shortages create operational risks as they compete for limited forces and weapons.
The warning comes as the five-month conflict intensifies after peace talks between Washington and Tehran collapsed, with sustained attacks reportedly depleting US stocks of key defensive weapons.
Naval pressure mounts
