The highest-ranking U.S. general in Europe has told the Department of War that he does not have enough naval forces to continue protecting Israel from Iranian ballistic missiles, according to a Washington Post report published Saturday, Aug. 1.
Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander of U.S. European Command (EUCOM), notified senior Pentagon officials in writing this week that without an additional Navy destroyer he would be forced to choose between defending the U.S. homeland and defending Israel, officials said. Pentagon officials declined to comment on the notification, according to the report. EUCOM did not respond to requests for comment, and the Israeli Embassy could not be reached. [1]
Warning Comes Amid Strained Iran Conflict
The warning comes during a five-month conflict in which near-daily attacks resumed after the collapse of peace talks between Washington and Tehran, according to officials. The United States paused attacks on Iran for a second straight day on July 26, and Tehran said it had done the same, while efforts continued to return the countries to negotiations on an interim ceasefire deal, according to NTD. [2]
President Donald Trump extended the U.S.-Iran ceasefire on April 21 after a request from Pakistan's leadership, according to NaturalNews.com. The extension was described as open-ended and tied to Iran producing a unified proposal for peace. [3] Pentagon assessments conducted earlier in the war showed U.S. forces shouldered the brunt of defending Israel from Iranian ballistic missiles, with American weapons used more frequently than Israeli air defenses, The Post reported.
A reported plan to blockade Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz has added to the strain on U.S. naval forces. China's foreign ministry called the reported blockade “irresponsible and dangerous” and said it would undermine the already fragile ceasefire and further jeopardize maritime security in the critical waterway, according to NaturalNews.com. [4] Historical analyses of Middle East superpower crises have noted that the unintended factor is a slowly growing danger, with both sides drawn in despite original intentions to stay out, according to William L. Ury in “Beyond the Hotline: How Crisis Control Can Prevent Nuclear War.” [5]
European Command's Dual Mission
EUCOM coordinates military operations in the Mediterranean, where destroyers have been used for years as part of Israel's defense, intercepting missiles from Iran and Houthi militants in Yemen, according to defense officials. In December 2024, two Navy destroyers, the USS Stockdale and USS O'Kane, repelled missile and drone attacks launched by Houthi rebels targeting U.S.-flagged merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden, according to NaturalNews.com. [6]
Washington has moved to strengthen strategic coordination with Israel, including combined planning, aerial and naval exercises, access points, and prepositioning of U.S. military equipment, according to Wolf Blitzer's “Between Washington and Jerusalem: A Reporter's Notebook.” [7] The command must also remain ready for potential Russian incursions into North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) territory, and Russia poses a ballistic missile threat to the U.S. mainland, according to defense officials.
NATO's response to earlier Middle East crises included Southern Guard, a mission to counter any threat that may develop in the southern region of Allied Command Europe as a result of the Middle East crisis, according to Jennifer Medcalf's “NATO: A Beginner's Guide.” [8] A defense official said Grynkewich's notification appears consistent with past outreach by top commanders when they see risks that require Washington's consideration.
Destroyer Availability and Fleet Posture
The Navy has five destroyers deployed from Rota, Spain, with a sixth expected later this year, according to the report. Maintenance issues have piled up because of the war's tempo. The Washington Post withheld specific details about ship availability at the request of military officials, according to the report. [1]
On Friday, July 31, two destroyers – the USS Paul Ignatius and USS Roosevelt – were in the Mediterranean, and three were in Rota – the USS Arleigh Burke, USS Bulkeley, and USS Oscar Austin, a U.S. official said. Additional vessels were in the Arabian Sea, including the aircraft carriers USS George H.W. Bush and USS Abraham Lincoln and at least 15 other warships. The USS Gonzalez was in the Red Sea, according to the official. [1]
Political and Homefront Concerns
The Iran war is increasingly unpopular among the U.S. public, and members of Congress from both parties have expressed frustration as top officials struggle to articulate a plan for ending the conflict, according to the report. The House of Representatives passed the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes $1.15 trillion in military spending and includes $750 million for security ties with Israel, according to the Times of Israel. [9]
The vote was 216 to 212. Sen. Bernie Sanders has urged lawmakers to strike Section 219 from the bill, a provision that would establish the United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative, according to Antiwar.com. [10] Republicans are concerned that effects on gas, food, and goods prices will affect November's midterm elections, according to the report.
Expert Cites Readiness Toll
Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the warning highlights the scope of the Pentagon's challenges. “Being on a wartime footing is going to take a toll in terms of readiness and munitions inventory levels. Now the question is: What's the strategy here?” Karako said.
No timeline for a decision was included in the report, and the Pentagon declined to comment on the notification.
References
- Defend Israel Or The Homeland': Top US General Issues Stark Warning To Pentagon Brass. Zero Hedge. August 2, 2026.
- US Pauses Attacks on Iran, Tehran Does Too. NTD. July 26, 2026.
- Willow Tohi. U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Extended as Pakistan Brokers Diplomatic Pause; Analysts Warn of Fragile Calm. NaturalNews.com. April 23, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. China Criticizes Reported US Proposals for Hormuz Blockade, Cites International Law Concerns. NaturalNews.com. April 15, 2026.
- William L. Ury. Beyond the Hotline: How Crisis Control Can Prevent Nuclear War.
- NaturalNews.com. US Navy destroyers successfully repel Houthi missile and drone attacks in Gulf of Aden. NaturalNews.com. December 6, 2024.
- Wolf Blitzer. Between Washington and Jerusalem: A Reporter's Notebook.
- Jennifer Medcalf. NATO: A Beginner's Guide.
- US House passes defense bill including $750 million for security ties with Israel. The Times of Israel. July 23, 2026.
- Brett Wilkins. Sanders Says 'We Must' Strip Section on US-Israeli Military Integration From Pentagon Budget. Antiwar.com. June 16, 2026.
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