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US military denies depleting missile defense stocks in Iran war
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Germany /Conflict & Security

US military denies depleting missile defense stocks in Iran war

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • U.S. media reports suggest the United States has depleted nearly 80% of its interceptor missiles for a key missile defense system during the war in Iran.
  • The Pentagon has denied these reports, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calling them

U.S. military commanders are warning of "dangerously low" ammunition stockpiles, with reports indicating that nearly 80% of interceptor missiles for a crucial missile defense system have been used in the war in Iran. The U.S. military has reportedly expended about half of its Patriot interceptor missiles and a significant portion of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles since the conflict began.

The report is not true, CNN should be ashamed.

โ€” Pete HegsethU.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's response to the CNN report on X.

These reports, citing sources familiar with the military's latest inventory, have raised concerns about the U.S. military's readiness for future conflicts. Analysts note that these high-precision, expensive weapons would also be vital in potential conflicts with China or Russia.

Fake news media.

โ€” Pete HegsethU.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's characterization of the CNN report.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has strongly refuted the claims, dismissing them as "fake news" and urging CNN, which published the report, to be ashamed. He asserted that the U.S. possesses "far more ammunition than anyone else in the world."

far more ammunition than anyone else in the world

โ€” Donald TrumpU.S. President Donald Trump's statement on U.S. ammunition levels.

Adding to the concerns, U.S. officials speaking to Reuters indicated that a large portion of the nation's global inventory of precision long-range missiles has also been depleted. These ground-to-ground army missiles have reportedly been almost entirely deployed. Furthermore, nearly half of the U.S.'s worldwide stock of Tomahawk cruise missiles, launched by the Navy from ships and submarines, has been consumed since the war's start.

far more than we need

โ€” Donald TrumpU.S. President Donald Trump's statement on U.S. ammunition levels.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.