Story by Alexander Butler
The war on Iran could leave the US unable to defend Israel against Iranian missile attacks, a top general has warned.
Gen Alexus Grynkewich, who leads the US European Command, said Donald Trump’s naval blockade of Iran risked leaving him with fewer resources to protect Israel from attack.
Five US navy destroyers, equipped with powerful radar and missiles, have been deployed to the eastern Mediterranean as part of Israel’s defence for many years.
But without another warship, which has been delayed by the US blockade, American troops in Europe would be forced to defend the US over Israel, The Washington Post reported.
Gen Grynkewich’s concerns were outlined in a memo to the Pentagon, which was subsequently leaked to US media.
Gen Alexus Grynkewich warned that the US naval blockade of Iran risked leaving him with fewer resources to protect Israel – ANDY RAIN/EPA/Shutterstock
In the Arabian Sea, a US armada including 11 warships and two aircraft carriers were deployed as part of the US president’s attempt to choke Iran’s economy.
Mr Trump launched the embargo earlier this year in response to Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, once a conduit for one fifth of the world’s oil, sending prices spiralling.
n Saturday, the US president walked away from threats to give Iran a “beating”, claiming a peace deal may be close.
He said he called off the attack, which he claimed would include the heaviest strikes of the war so far, at Tehran’s request, “subject to being able to rapidly make a deal”.
Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social: “We have just been asked by Iran, and other Middle Eastern Countries, to hold off any attack in that the perimeters of a deal has been agreed to.
“This would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.”
On Friday, Mr Trump had threatened attacks, coordinated with Israel, targeting energy infrastructure, which were set to begin this weekend and to last a few days.
They were also expected to target Pickaxe Mountain, where Israeli intelligence claimed Iran had hidden centrifuges to make uranium, which could be used to make nuclear weapons.
But last week, an American official warned that the US did not have enough missiles to return to an all-out war with Iran.
The official said any operation would be limited by dwindling stockpiles of air defence and long-range munitions.
“We do not have enough to safely sustain operations, and I don’t think the White House is aware of that,” the official told The Washington Post.
According to Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, the war with Iran has cost the US some $37.5bn (£28bn) so far – an increase of nearly $8bn (£6bn) since the last estimate in May.
Mr Hegseth asked the Senate for another $87bn (£64.5bn) in congressional funding for the Pentagon, with $67bn (£49.7bn) of that destined for operations in the Middle East.
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