The Washington Post reports that the commander of US European Command warned the Pentagon this week that his naval forces are insufficient to sustain the defense of Israel against ballistic missile threats. Without an additional destroyer, he stated he would be forced to prioritize the US homeland over regional commitments. The Pentagon and the Israeli embassy in Washington did not comment.
The Washington Post has now published the full report detailing the warning from General Alexus Grynkewich, commander of US European Command, who told the Pentagon this week that his naval forces are insufficient to sustain the defense of Israel against ballistic missile threats. In an internal message, Grynkewich stated that without an additional destroyer, he would be forced to prioritize the protection of the US homeland over regional commitments. The report, first flagged by Israeli media (N12) earlier today, includes the general's name and the current deployment of two US warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and one in the Red Sea. Neither the Pentagon nor the Israeli embassy in Washington offered comment.
The story first emerged at 14:53 Jerusalem on Saturday, when the Washington Post reported a senior US military official's warning. N12 subsequently cited the report, and later versions identified General Grynkewich by name and detailed the warship deployment. The thread shows the warning has been consistent across all versions, with the key detail — that Grynkewich would choose between homeland and Israel — remaining unchanged. The Washington Post's publication now provides the original source attribution.
This warning comes amid broader US military resource constraints. As The Zioneer reported on July 21, a US official told the Washington Post that the Pentagon's air defense and long-range munitions stockpiles are too depleted to sustain operations. Additionally, the Pentagon is planning to cut US fighter jets assigned to NATO from 150 to 100, signaling a shift in defense posture. These developments reflect growing strain on American military assets as the US maintains active operations in the Middle East, including airstrikes against Iran and support for Israel.
What remains unclear is whether the Pentagon will allocate an additional destroyer to EUCOM, and how the White House views the warning. The Pentagon and Israeli embassy declined to comment, leaving the resource gap and its implications unaddressed.
7 developments
- StrongUS official warns Pentagon lacks sufficient munitions for sustained operations, says White House may not be aware
- DevelopingUS Defense Secretary warns Europe of 'new invasion' via southern coasts
- StrongReport: Pentagon to cut US fighter jets assigned to NATO in Europe from 150 to 100
- DevelopingUS Embassy in Jerusalem orders shelter-in-place for staff amid drone, missile threat
Source and signal
- Open-source intake