The United States has expended nearly its entire global inventory of long-range precision missiles throughout the ongoing war with Iran, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the situation. The depletion specifically includes the military's supply of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles. This assessment aligns with earlier reports stating that the rate of expenditure for these precision munitions during the early phases of Operation Epic Fury has proven unsustainable.
Beyond the immediate loss of offensive long-range weapons, U.S. officials have highlighted a significant concern regarding the availability of defensive interceptors. The consumption rate of Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors has outpaced the capacity of the defense industry to replenish them. A report issued in July by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) detailed the extent of this decline, noting that the U.S. inventory of Patriots dropped from 2,330 before the war to between 759 and 827 by the end of July. Similarly, THAAD interceptor stocks fell from 452 to between 234 and 278 in the same period. CSIS estimates suggest that returning to pre-war inventory levels for these systems could take until at least mid-2029.
In response to these findings, Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the U.S. military remains the most powerful in the world and possesses the necessary capabilities to execute operations at the president's direction. He emphasized that the military continues to maintain a deep arsenal to protect national interests across various combatant commands. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously dismissed reports of stockpile shortages, characterizing the narrative as a manufactured story and insisting that the nation's supplies are strong and improving.
Meanwhile, President Trump has ordered a pause in strikes against Iran to facilitate ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding the Strait of Hormuz. However, the president has maintained the threat of resuming large-scale military attacks should U.S. terms remain unmet, noting in the Oval Office on Monday that he wishes to provide every possible chance for diplomacy before considering further escalation.
"That is a manufactured story that the media wants to peddle and ultimately our stockpiles are great, and they're only getting stronger," Hegseth said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on June 14.
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