US Military Has Spent Nearly 80% of Key Interceptors
Senior commanders warn Pentagon stockpiles are 'dangerously low,' and Gulf allies fear Iranian retaliation.
Senior commanders warn Pentagon stockpiles are 'dangerously low,' and Gulf allies fear Iranian retaliation.
The US military has depleted nearly 80% of its interceptor missiles for a key missile defense system, and senior military commanders warn that Pentagon ammunition stockpiles have become "dangerously low," CNN has learned from multiple sources familiar with the situation.
This revelation casts new light on President Donald Trump's decision last weekend to call off planned massive strikes on Iran, after allies in the Middle East directly conveyed their fears of Iranian retaliation to him.
Stockpiles of key air defense systems have been particularly depleted during the war with Iran. According to two sources familiar with the latest inventory report, the US military has expended nearly four-fifths of its THAAD missile inventory compared to pre-war numbers, as well as roughly half of its Patriot interceptors since the conflict began. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates that the United States had approximately 2,200 Patriots and 452 THAAD missiles in its stockpiles before the war with Iran.
"The US military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to operate at the time and place of the President's choosing," Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell told CNN. He added that they have conducted "multiple successful operations across combatant commands, while ensuring that the US military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and interests."
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told CNN that the US military "has more than enough ammunition, munitions, and supplies to achieve all of President Trump's strategic goals and beyond." She also highlighted that "Operation Epic Fury exposed what happens when you mess with the United States," but that the President nevertheless encourages defense contractors to continuously produce American-made weapons.
Gulf countries have expressed concern that the shortage of air defense systems could affect their ability to repel potential Iranian retaliation. Several of these nations rely on US systems and have acknowledged that the depletion could compromise their own ability to intercept Iranian missiles and drones.
The stockpile issue was raised again before Trump's decision last weekend to cancel further strikes on Iran. According to a senior official, Trump had planned massive strikes on Friday, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had been given the final "green light." However, the President backed off on Saturday after conversations with Middle Eastern allies, who told him they feared Iranian retaliation, particularly attacks on their energy infrastructure.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine also raised the stockpile issue at a White House meeting in late July, where military options for escalating the conflict were considered. One source familiar with the stockpile concerns warned: "The lack of interceptors means that conventional strikes can backfire if suicide drones start getting through in masses. Retaliation for retaliation will never end this."
Under current delivery schedules for this fiscal year, the Pentagon is receiving approximately 15 new Tomahawk and 20 new Patriot missiles per month. CSIS estimates that it would take three or more years to rebuild the THAAD inventory to pre-war levels. The US military has also expended "nearly all" of its high-precision long-range surface-to-air missiles during the conflict, according to a source familiar with internal Pentagon reports. Reuters was the first to report on specific concerns about long-range strategic missile stockpiles.
Tomahawk missile stockpiles have also been significantly depleted-nearly half have been expended during the war. CNN reported in April 2026 that the US military had used nearly 30% of its Tomahawks in the early stages of the conflict. Other types, such as the Precision Strike Missile and the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, are expected to return to pre-war levels by mid- to late 2027.
Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on August 4 that since July 14, when the US reinstated the naval blockade of Iran, US forces have diverted 45 commercial ships, disabled two, and boarded two to ensure compliance with the blockade. Trump on Monday called Iran's leadership "incredibly two-faced" on social media, after Tehran denied his claim about the resumption of talks, saying this is Iran's "last chance" to reach a deal.
