Current sectionIsrael NewsIsrael SecurityAccording to The Washington Post, the chief of the U.S. European Command notified Pentagon officials that without another U.S. Navy destroyer, the command will be forced to choose between defending the United States and defending Israel from Iranian attacksShare to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeA single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) launches from the U.S. Navy AEGIS cruiser USS Lake Erie. Credit: U.S. Navy/APA single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) launches from the U.S. Navy AEGIS cruiser USS Lake Erie. Credit: U.S. Navy/AP04:56 PM • August 01 2026 IDTThe top U.S. military chief in Europe warned the Pentagon earlier this week that Washington doesn't have enough naval forces to continue intercepting Iranian ballistic missile attacks on Israel, The Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing officials.According to the report, U.S. European Command Chief Alexus Grynkewich notified Pentagon officials that without another U.S. Navy destroyer, the command will be forced to choose between defending the United States and defending Israel from Iranian attacks.Neither Israel, the Pentagon, nor the U.S. European Command responded to The Post's request for comment.Listen to the Haaretz Podcast with Pnina PfeufferThe United States has deployed naval destroyers across the Middle East to aid in Israel's defense, reinforcing its presence after the October 7 attack. U.S. destroyers have participated in intercepting missiles fired by both Iranian forces and Houthi forces in Yemen.The New York Times reported earlier this month that a major reason U.S. President Donald Trump decided to pause attacks on Iran was the potential for a significant depletion of U.S. air defense supplies in the Middle East.According to the sources, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned that while expanding strikes against Iran was operationally feasible, doing so could dangerously deplete the supply of interceptors available to U.S. Central Command.According to a May report in The Post, the United States fired some 300 interceptors to help defend Israel against Iranian ballistic missiles during the war with Iran, compared to about 190 launched by Israel itself.According to the report, which cited Pentagon assessments and U.S. sources, Washington fired more than 200 high-altitude THAAD interceptors in defense of Israel, roughly half of the Pentagon's total stockpile.A battery of the Americans' THAAD missile defense system lands in Israel, March. Credit: U.S. Army Europe/IDF Spokesperson's UnitA battery of the Americans' THAAD missile defense system lands in Israel, March. Credit: U.S. Army Europe/IDF Spokesperson's UnitThe report added that more than 100 additional interceptors were launched from U.S. Navy ships in the eastern Mediterranean. By comparison, Israel fired fewer than 100 Arrow interceptors and about 90 David's Sling missiles.Pentagon estimates suggest that the United States bore the bulk of the burden of Israel's missile defense. "In total, the U.S. fired around 120 more interceptors and engaged twice as many Iranian missiles," a U.S. administration official was quoted as saying.According to the Post, the U.S. military significantly depleted parts of its advanced interceptor stockpiles, using far more munitions to defend Israel during the war with Iran than Israel itself."Israel is not capable of fighting and winning wars on its own, but nobody actually knows this, because they never see the back end," said a U.S. official quoted in the report.In the NewsReport: U.S. Lacks Forces to Defend Israel From Iranian Missiles, General WarnsIt's No Wonder Israelis Want War. Violence Has Become a Source of JoyPolice Block Haredi Protesters Trying to Storm Jerusalem Cafe Open on ShabbatPivotal on Paper, Palestinians Concerned Trump's Gaza Roadmap Leads to Dead EndArab Party Courts Senior Lawmaker From Yair Lapid's Party for Election SlateRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMINetanyahu Says Israel Has 'Special Forces' Ready if He's Arrested on NY VisitAl Jazeera Reportedly Ends Contracts of Over 20 Gazan JournalistsTwo Female Israeli Soldiers Die by Suicide as IDF Mental Health Crisis DeepensDozens of IDF Soldiers Desert Sde Teiman Base in Protest of CommanderTrump's Irritation, Netanyahu's Desperation: Oval Office Smiles Mask RiftsIsrael's De Facto Strategy Is Exposed in Latest West Bank Settler Violence