A warning from one of Washington’s top military commanders has exposed a growing dilemma for the United States: it may no longer have enough naval forces to simultaneously defend Israel against Iranian missile attacks and protect its own interests across the Middle East, a Dawn correspondent reports.

General Alexus Grynkewich, commander of the US European Command (EUCOM), has privately informed Pentagon officials that American naval assets are becoming stretched too thin as the conflict with Iran continues, according to reports by The Washington Post and other US media outlets.

The general reportedly warned that without another US Navy destroyer assigned to the region, commanders could eventually face a difficult choice between protecting American forces and continuing missile-defence operations for Israel.

 Various US media outlets noted that the significance of the warning lies not only in the shortage itself, but in who delivered it. Grynkewich is not a political critic or an outside analyst; he is one of the senior officers responsible for managing US military commitments. His message reflects an internal military concern that America’s global commitments are exceeding available resources.