Head of US military’s European Command said to warn he’s not sufficiently equipped to defend Israel

Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, head of the US military’s European Command, has sent the Pentagon a written warning that if he doesn’t receive another Navy destroyer, he “will be forced to choose defense of the United States ‘homeland’ over that of Israel, according to unidentified officials cited by the Washington Post.

The European Command coordinates operations in the Mediterranean, where its vessels help shoot down projectiles launched at Israel from both Iran and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the Post says. Two of the European Command’s five Rota, Spain-based destroyers were stationed in the Mediterranean as of Friday, according to the Post.

On the other hand, the European Command is also responsible for protecting against potential Russian incursions into NATO territory and the threat posed by Russia’s long-range missiles, which can reach the US, the Post notes.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the report, while the European Command did not respond to requests for comment and a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in Washington could not be reached for comment, the newspaper says.