Sun 02 August 2026:

The top US commander in Europe privately warned the Pentagon that he lacks enough naval forces to keep defending Israel from ballistic missile attacks, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, head of US European Command, told senior Pentagon officials that without another Navy destroyer, he would have to prioritize defense of the US “homeland” over Israel, according to officials.

A US defense official said the warning follows a common practice in which senior commanders alert the Pentagon when resource shortages create operational risks as they compete for limited forces and weapons.

The warning comes as the five-month conflict intensifies after peace talks between Washington and Tehran collapsed, with sustained attacks reportedly depleting US stocks of key defensive weapons.

The Navy has faced growing pressure as the Trump administration ordered a blockade of Iranian ports following Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil shipments and trade.

US destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean have long helped defend Israel, using advanced radar and missile systems to intercept projectiles launched by Iran and Tehran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.

The European Command oversees these Mediterranean operations while also maintaining readiness against potential Russian threats to NATO territory.

The Navy operates five destroyers from Rota, Spain, with a sixth expected later this year. However, officials said the pace of the Iran war has created maintenance challenges, reducing ship availability.

__________________________________________________________________________

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22

__________________________________________________________________________

Trump cancels planned strikes on Iran

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that he canceled a planned military strike against Iran after Tehran and “other Middle Eastern countries” requested time to finalize the framework of a peace deal, saying Israel has joined the commitment.

In a post on his proprietary social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed that the sides agreed to the “perimeters” of a potential deal that would include the “immediate, complete, and total” reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat.

Trump said he agreed to cancel the attack “for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran,” adding that the decision is subject to the parties being able to “rapidly make a DEAL.”

“The USA is locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran, at levels of Military Terror, Strength, and Power not seen since World War II,” Trump wrote.

He said Israel also agreed to the commitment to hold off on attacks. “Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE.”

-Source: AA

__________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

WhatsApp CHANNEL
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22