WASHINGTON (AP) — The top U. S. commander in the Middle East will warn Congress today against efforts to scale back the Navy’s presence in the embattled region, saying threats from Iran and elsewhere will require more ships and maritime missile defense capabilities.

Marine Gen. James Mattis, head of U. S. Central Command, also said Syria has a “substantial” chemical and biological weapons capability and thousands of shoulderlaunched missiles. Until now, the U.S. military has largely declined to describe the expanse of weapons that President Bashar Assad’s regime has at its disposal.

Mattis laid out his concerns in testimony prepared for Senate and House Armed Services Committee hearings this week. He and Navy Adm. William McRaven, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, are testifying before the Senate panel today. The testimony was obtained by The Associated Press.

Mattis’ comments come as the Obama administration meets with Israeli leaders this week to discuss the escalating Iranian threat and the possibility of a pre-emptive strike by Israel.

Against a backdrop of roughly $500 billion in Pentagon budget cuts over the next decade, Mattis said the U.S. must use its Navy and special operations forces to maintain a smaller but still strong military presence in the Middle East as the wars in Iran and Afghanistan end.