Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander of the US European Command (EUCOM), sent a letter to senior Pentagon officials in July 2026 warning that the Navy lacks sufficient destroyers to protect Israel from ballistic missile threats without compromising homeland defense [1, 2, 3, 4]. Currently, the US has five destroyers based in Rota, Spain, positioned for deployment to the eastern Mediterranean to support Israel, with a sixth expected later this year [1, 2, 3, 5, 4].

EUCOM oversees operations in the Mediterranean that defend Israel and maintains readiness against potential missile threats from Russia to NATO allies in the region [1, 2, 3]. However, the ongoing conflict with Iran, which has lasted more than five months, has strained US naval resources significantly. The war has caused accelerated wear on vessels and rapidly depleted advanced missile interceptor stockpiles, including THAAD and Standard missile types SM-3 and SM-6, with some interceptors expected to take years to replenish [1, 2, 3, 5, 4]. Over 200 THAAD missiles and more than 100 Standard missiles have been fired defending Israel [1, 4].

In addition to the destroyers near Israel, the US Navy operates two aircraft carriers and at least 15 other warships, including 11 destroyers, in the Arabian Sea and surrounding waters to enforce port blockades and secure the Strait of Hormuz amid renewed naval aggression following the collapse of a US-Iran ceasefire in July 2026 [1, 5, 4]. A US defense official said the warning aligns with the common practice of senior commanders alerting the Pentagon about operational risks when resources are stretched between competing demands [3].

CSIS missile defense program director Kara Keko commented, “保持战时状态会对战备水平和弹药库存造成影响，现在的问题是：战略是什么？” (Maintaining wartime status impacts readiness and ammo stocks; the key question is: what is the strategy?) [1].

As of late July, two US destroyers were operating in the Mediterranean in support of Israel, while three others remained docked in Rota [1, 5]. The US recently paused high-intensity airstrikes against Iran due to ammunition depletion and other strategic concerns [5, 4]. The Navy’s sixth destroyer deployment to Rota expected later this year will be critical to easing pressure on maritime defense capabilities in the Mediterranean [1, 2, 3, 5, 4].