Top US Commander Warns Military Lacks Resources To Keep Defending Israel From Missiles: Report
Top US Commander Warns Military Lacks Resources To Keep Defending Israel From Missiles: Report Published By, Last Updated: August 02, 2026, 11:38 IST Gen. Grynkewich
Top US Commander Warns Military Lacks Resources To Keep Defending Israel From Missiles: Report Published By, Last Updated: August 02, 2026, 11:38 IST Gen. Grynkewich wrote in a letter that he may have to prioritise defending the US homeland over Israel if another US Navy destroyer is not deployed under his command.. US President Donald Trump points his finger towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a press conference in Palm Beach, Florida. (Source: Reuters) The top commander of US forces in Europe reportedly warned the Pentagon that the American military does not have enough resources to continue protecting Israel from incoming ballistic missile attacks, raising fresh concerns about the strain the West Asia conflict placed on US military capabilities.
According to a report by The Washington Post, General Alexus Grynkewich, chief of the US European Command (EUCOM), told Pentagon officials earlier this week that the US lacks sufficient naval assets in the region to sustain missile interception operations against Iranian attacks targeting Israel. Citing unnamed officials, the report said Gen. Grynkewich wrote in a letter that he may have to prioritise defending the US homeland over Israel if another US Navy destroyer is not deployed under his command. EUCOM oversees US military operations in Europe and the Mediterranean, where American warships have been intercepting ballistic missiles launched at Israel from Iran as well as attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The report comes as the US currently has five Navy destroyers stationed at a naval base in Spain, with the vessels available for deployment to the eastern Mediterranean as part of Israel’s air defence efforts.
A sixth destroyer is expected to join the fleet later this year. The reported warning also reflects growing concerns within the Pentagon that months of military operations in West Asia have significantly depleted the US inventory of advanced interceptor missiles. Earlier this month, The New York Times reported that concerns over dwindling air defence stockpiles were among the key reasons US President Donald Trump decided to pause planned strikes on Iran. According to that report, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine advised that while expanding military operations against Iran remained operationally feasible, doing so risked critically reducing the interceptor missiles available to US Central Command for regional defence operations. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location: Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: August 02, 2026, 11:38 IST News world Top US Commander Warns Military Lacks Resources To Keep Defending Israel From Missiles: Report Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s.
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