US EUCOM Commander: Navy Cannot Simultaneously Defend Israel and the US Homeland

General Alexus Grynkewich, head of U.S. European Command (EUCOM), has secretly warned the Pentagon that he lacks sufficient naval assets to continue intercepting Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Israel while simultaneously covering the U.S. homeland. According to a Washington Post report citing unnamed officials, Grynkewich has requested an additional Navy destroyer to avoid having to choose between the two missions.
Key points from the report:
Current Fleet Strained: EUCOM forces currently rely on destroyers stationed in Rota, Spain (five deployed, with a sixth expected later this year) that rotate through the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea to intercept Iranian and Ansar Allah (Houthi) projectiles aimed at Israel. As of Friday, only two of those destroyers were positioned in the Mediterranean.
Competing Priorities: EUCOM is also tasked with defending NATO’s eastern flank and countering long-range Russian missile threats. Consequently, the limited destroyer fleet is being pulled in multiple directions following months of near-daily interception operations tied to the war with Iran.
Stockpile Depletion: This warning coincides with broader reports of strain on the U.S. arsenal, including dwindling stockpiles of Patriot interceptor missiles.