US has used ‘virtually all’ key long-range missiles in Iran war – report

The US Army has used “virtually all” of its stockpile of two key long-range precision missile systems during Washington’s five-month war against Iran, raising serious questions about the country’s readiness for another major conflict, Reuters has reported.

Citing three people familiar with internal military data, the report said the US has exhausted most of its Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), surface-to-surface weapons that allow forces to strike targets accurately from a considerable distance.

Two of the sources described the remaining stockpile of the weapons as virtually depleted, although they declined to disclose the number of missiles still available.

The disclosure highlighted the scale at which the US has consumed some of its most advanced and expensive weapons since President Donald Trump launched the war jointly with Israel in February, predicting that the confrontation would be brief. The conflict has instead continued for five months, placing sustained pressure on US military supplies.

It’s though that the rapid depletion will force Trump to rely more heavily on piloted aircraft and shorter-range bombs if he orders another large-scale offensive against Iran. Such operations would expose US pilots and aircraft to greater danger, particularly when attacking targets protected by sophisticated air-defence systems.

One source told Reuters that the heavy use of long-range missiles reflected a deliberate decision by the Trump administration to avoid riskier bombing missions involving piloted aircraft.

The shortage could also weaken Washington’s ability to respond to another confrontation involving China or Russia. Long-range precision missiles would be especially important in any conflict in the western Pacific, where US forces would need to strike heavily defended targets from considerable distances.

Concerns are not limited to offensive weapons. The US had used approximately 65 per cent of its Patriot missile interceptors between February and July. Its stockpile of Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) interceptors was also estimated to be at least 38 per cent lower than before the war.

The US has additionally fired a little less than half of its global stockpile of Tomahawk cruise missiles since the conflict began, according to one person familiar with the data.

Tomahawks are launched primarily from US Navy destroyers, cruisers and submarines, allowing Washington to strike heavily defended targets without placing pilots directly at risk.

The reported depletion follows earlier warnings that the US had already consumed a substantial share of its defensive missiles protecting Israel from Iranian retaliation. A previous report said Washington fired more than 200 THAAD interceptors during the conflict, equivalent to roughly half of the Pentagon’s total stockpile.

US defence officials have reportedly held tense discussions over how long strikes against Iran can continue without reducing stockpiles to levels that would restrict Washington’s ability to respond to crises elsewhere.

Trump rejected suggestions that the US faces a serious shortage, insisting that the country possesses more munitions than it needs and that American arms manufacturers are expanding production.

However, military analysts have warned that expanded production may not replenish inventories quickly enough to meet the demands of a prolonged war. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has estimated that rebuilding stocks of several key missiles to pre-war levels could take between one and four years. It warned that US supplies were considered insufficient for a potential conflict with a major power even before the war against Iran began.

The shortages also raise questions about the sustainability of Trump’s military strategy. Despite claims by the administration that the offensive had destroyed much of Iran’s military capacity, US intelligence assessments have reportedly concluded that Tehran retains thousands of missiles and drones and remains capable of threatening American forces and allies across the region.