Is the US running out of weapons during the war with Iran? Pentagon report highlights missile deficiencies, supply bottlenecks | Today’s news
The latest US Defense Department report on the ongoing war in West Asia, released on Monday, revealed that the heavy use of US munitions during the conflict has led to “strategic stockpile gaps” and exposed “industrial base bottlenecks” that are hampering efforts to replenish weapons.
The assessment pointed to increasing pressure on stockpiles of advanced missiles and defensive interceptors as the US continues military operations in the region.
The quarterly assessment of US military operations in Iran under Operation Epic Fury details the financial, military and logistical losses of the conflict through June 30.
Defense experts have previously estimated that it could take US military suppliers around three years to restore stocks of some advanced missiles and interceptors to pre-war levels.
While the Pentagon says the US military maintains sufficient capabilities to sustain its operations, the watchdog’s findings underscore the strain the conflict has placed on the country’s industrial defense base.
The Iran war is costing $33.4 billion
The war with Iran has cost Washington an estimated $33.4 billion so far, including $22.3 billion spent on weapons and ammunition, according to a Pentagon watchdog.
The US Department of Defense incurred an additional $7.4 billion in conflict-related costs, while an estimated $3.7 billion worth of military equipment was lost, the report said.
The data in the report covers the period from February 28 to June 29 and does not include the cost of repairing damaged infrastructure.
Iranian strikes have damaged US bases in West Asia
The Iranian attacks also caused extensive damage to US military installations throughout the region, with hundreds of buildings and structures damaged or destroyed at US installations in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan.
The US Naval Logistics Center in Bahrain was among the facilities targeted by ballistic missiles and drones. The attacks prompted US Central Command to reroute some supply lines through alternative locations, including Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
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The report said the diversion of supplies via longer routes has compounded the logistical problems facing US forces deployed across the region.
Planes, drones among US military casualties
The conflict also resulted in significant losses in US military equipment, with dozens of US aircraft and drones damaged or destroyed, according to the report.
Up to 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones were lost, with each aircraft worth roughly $30 million.
Several KC-135 tankers were also damaged, including those struck on the ground in Saudi Arabia.
The losses have added another layer of pressure to US military stockpiles as Washington continues to maintain operations in the region.
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American diplomatic facilities also suffered damage
The impact of the conflict went beyond military installations, with US diplomatic infrastructure also suffering significant damage, the report said.
The State Department previously reported damage to US diplomatic facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Total property damage was estimated at $184 million.
The financial burden of the conflict also continues to exceed the Pentagon’s assessment.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress in late July that direct military costs had reached $37.5 billion, the AP reported. Separately, the State Department reported $113 million in emergency spending, including nearly $80 million spent on the emergency evacuation of about 9,000 American citizens from the region.
US continues regional arms sales despite pressure on stockpiles
Despite pressure on US arms stocks, the US continued to approve defense sales to countries throughout the region.
The watchdog report said the US processed more than $44 billion in emergency and non-emergency defense packages for regional partners, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Israel.
