‘Ammunition’ warning for US ships: Stocks near depletion

According to a report in the US press, American naval assets operating in the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel have approached a critical threshold regarding ammunition and maintenance capacity. In a report citing US defense officials, The Washington Post stated that US European Command (EUCOM) Commander General Alexus Grynkewich had delivered a classified warning to the Pentagon.

According to the report, Grynkewich indicated that if a new destroyer is not dispatched to the region, the US may be forced to reduce or withdraw the missile defense support it provides to Israel. The warning emphasized that available limited resources would primarily be used for the defense of the US homeland.

STOCK AND MAINTENANCE PRESSURE

In the assessments conveyed by The Washington Post, it was stated that the American navy stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean has been under an intense operational tempo due to ongoing conflicts with Iran and the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz. The report noted that the burden carried by American ships in protecting Israel against ballistic missile and drone attacks has increased.

It was alleged that the high consumption of SM-3 and SM-6 type interceptor missiles fired from THAAD systems and Aegis-equipped destroyers has caused ammunition stocks to drop to critical levels. It was also stated that the maintenance needs of the 5 American destroyers operating in the region and at Eastern Mediterranean ports have increased.

Tom Karako, Director of the Missile Defense Project at CSIS, whose views were included in the report, assessed that Washington's failure to present a clear strategy has increased the pressure on ammunition stocks. The cost and sustainability of the military support provided by the US to Israel have also become a subject of renewed debate.