Khaberni - While American warships are intercepting missiles headed from Iran towards Israel, the cost of this role began imposing a more complex equation on Washington, as the commander of the American Command in Europe warned of a shortage in available naval assets that might limit the United States' ability to continue protecting Israel from ballistic missile attacks, hinting at the possibility of prioritizing the defense of American territories over supporting its ally.
The Washington Post reported, citing American officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, that the commander of the American Command in Europe, General Alexos Grinkevitch, issued a secret written notification to senior officials at the US Department of Defense (Pentagon), stating that he might need to prioritize protecting the American homeland over defending Israel unless his command is provided with an additional naval destroyer.
The newspaper mentioned that a US defense official said that Grinkevitch's notification aligns with previous communications that top military leaders had with the Pentagon when they identified risks that required intervention or decisions from Washington, indicating that such measures are repeated amid military leadership competition for weapons and available resources.
The report clarifies that the Pentagon refused to comment on this news, nor has the American Command in Europe responded to requests for comment, and there has been no announced position from the Israeli side regarding the warning.
Increasing Pressure on American Forces
The report reviews how the military commander's warning comes at a sensitive stage of the ongoing conflict, which has been ongoing for 5 months, after almost daily attacks resumed following the collapse of peace talks between Washington and Tehran, leading to increased pressure on American forces and depleting stocks of prominent air defense systems and interceptor ammunition.
The newspaper sees that the American navy faces exceptional pressures after the administration of President Donald Trump imposed a blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which led to escalated tensions in one of the most important global waterways and disrupted the movement of oil and goods from the Middle East, leading to global economic turmoil.
For years, American destroyers deployed in the eastern Mediterranean have played a key role in protecting Israel, as the ships equipped with advanced radars and interception missiles use their capabilities to detect and intercept threats directed towards Israel, whether those coming from Iran or from the Ansar Allah group (Houthis) in Yemen.
The American command in Europe coordinates military operations in the Mediterranean alongside its responsibilities related to maintaining readiness to confront any potential Russian threats, especially since Moscow possesses ballistic missiles capable of reaching American territory.
The American fleet in Europe has 9 destroyers operating from the Rota base in Spain, with an additional destroyer expected to join later this year.
However, the pace of military operations and the ongoing conflict with Iran have led to a buildup of maintenance problems and increased pressure on ships and naval crews.
The Burden of Defending Israel
Evaluations -according to the Washington Post- prepared by the Pentagon show that the American forces have borne the brunt of the burden of defending Israel during the latest confrontations, as American systems, including the THAAD missile defense system and maritime interception capabilities, were used at much higher rates than Israeli air defense means.
The destroyers "USS Paul Ignatius" and "USS Roosevelt" were deployed in the Mediterranean Sea, while 3 other destroyers were positioned at the Rota base in Spain.
Close to Iran, an American fleet in the Arabian Sea including the aircraft carriers "George Bush" and "Abraham Lincoln", along with 15 other warships.
In the Red Sea, the destroyer "USS Gonzalez" sails, amid ongoing threats to commercial navigation, while Saudi Arabia seeks to form a military alliance aimed at ensuring navigation freedom.
Opposition Within the US
The American newspaper points out that domestic opposition to the war with Iran is escalating in the US, coinciding with growing criticism from members of Congress from both the Republican and Democratic parties for the lack of a clear plan to end the conflict and restore peace.
The ongoing war also raises concerns within the Republican party, with fears that rising fuel and commodity prices might negatively impact the party's chances in the upcoming midterm elections in November.
The Washington Post quoted Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, saying "The shift to a war state casts its repercussions on the readiness and stockpile of American ammunition."
The New York Times and the Washington Post published reports in May highlighting a political and ideological shift affecting the traditional relationship between America and Israel, not only within the Democratic party as was the case during the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, but also within the populist right-wing tied to President Donald Trump.
The reports show that the war waged by America alongside Israel against Iran has accelerated this shift, pushing the issue of Israel to the center of the domestic political conflict in the US.
In July, more than half of the Democrats in the US House of Representatives voted in favor of halting the annual military aid provided by Washington to Israel, amounting to 3.3 billion dollars, in a move that reflects the widening dispute within the party about the relationship with Israel, and the decline in support for it due to the genocidal war it wages on the Gaza Strip.
Out of 314 Representatives from both the Republican and Democratic parties who opposed an amendment proposed by Republican Representative from Kentucky Thomas Massie, known for his opposition to various forms of foreign aid, 103 Democratic Representatives supported canceling US aid to Tel Aviv.
Left-leaning Democrats within the party are pressing to end US aid to Israel as part of their campaigns for the primary elections for the midterm congressional renewal, while moderate Democrats call for continuing to supply Israel with funds used only for defensive weaponry.
