The American warehouse is emptying: The figure that stopped the strike on Iran at the last moment
The U.S. has used nearly 80% of its THAAD interceptors and about half of its Patriot interceptors in the war with Iran. The shortage has alarmed Gulf states and was among the considerations that led Donald Trump to halt an additional strike over the weekend.
The United States' air defense system stockpiles have been dramatically depleted during the war with Iran, and senior U.S. military officials warn that the Pentagon's ammunition reserves have reached a "dangerously low" level, CNN reported, citing several sources familiar with the details.
According to two sources who reviewed the latest inventory report, the U.S. military has used nearly 80% of its THAAD interceptor stockpile since the outbreak of the war. At the same time, about half of the Patriot interceptor stockpile has been used. The critical state of the THAAD inventory had not been fully disclosed until now.
These are two of the most important air defense systems for the United States and its allies. THAAD is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at high altitudes, while Patriot systems are used to counter missiles, aircraft, and UAVs at lower layers of the defense array.
The exact inventory volume remains classified, and public estimates have fluctuated throughout the war. Reports from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington estimated that before the fighting, the U.S. had more than 2,000 Patriot interceptors and only a few hundred THAAD interceptors. In a more recent report, the Center estimated that the Patriot stockpile had already fallen below 1,000 interceptors, while the THAAD stockpile stood at about 250.
These figures have renewed concern in Gulf states, some of which rely on U.S. defense systems to counter Iranian missiles and UAVs. Officials in the region fear that in the event of further escalation, the shortage of interceptors will make it difficult for the U.S. to provide full protection for its bases and allies — especially if Iran chooses to attack energy facilities and strategic infrastructure.
The fear of an Iranian retaliatory attack was also raised in conversations President Donald Trump held with leaders in the Middle East this past weekend. According to the report, the countries warned Trump that another U.S. strike could make them a target and put their oil, gas, and electricity facilities at risk.
The issue of dwindling stockpiles was one of the considerations raised in discussions preceding Trump's decision to halt the planned strike on Iran. According to U.S. sources, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had already received a green light on Friday to proceed with extensive strikes, but the President backed down after talks with allies in the region and ordered the Pentagon to wait. The military option, however, has not been taken off the table.
This is at least the second time in recent weeks that senior military officials have warned Trump that continuing the fighting at the current pace could deplete ammunition essential not only for the campaign against Iran but also for U.S. preparations for other theaters — primarily the possibility of a future confrontation with China in the Pacific region.
Against the backdrop of the shortage, the Pentagon has already announced measures for a significant expansion of production. As part of agreements with the defense industry, the production rate of Patriot interceptors is set to triple, while the production of components for THAAD interceptors is set to quadruple. However, even under an optimistic scenario, replenishing the stocks is expected to take years.
