The United States’ top general has said that Israel had not received every weapon it has asked for, in part because some of it could affect the US military’s readiness and there were capacity limitations, Reuters reports.

Washington gives $3.8 billion in annual military assistance to Israel, its longtime ally.

“Although we’ve been supporting them with capability, they’ve not received everything they’ve asked for,” said General Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“Some of that is because they’ve asked for stuff that we either don’t have the capacity to provide or not willing to provide, not right now,” Brown added, while speaking at an event hosted by the Defense Writers Group.

A spokesperson for Brown later on Thursday said his comments were in reference to “a standard practice before providing military aid to any of our allies and partners.”

“There is no change in US policy. The United States continues to provide security assistance to our ally Israel as they defend themselves from Hamas,” Navy Captain Jereal Dorsey said in a statement.