U.S. Military Rations Missiles as Iranian Strikes Hit Bases

U.S. military commanders in the Middle East are selectively intercepting Iranian missiles and drones to preserve a diminishing supply of defensive munitions. United States Central Command is rationing interceptors, including Patriot missiles, by allowing projectiles to pass through defenses if they are deemed off-course or unlikely to strike personnel and critical facilities.

This policy has resulted in Iranian projectiles striking U.S. bases, including abandoned buildings, and has caused extensive damage at installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq. The strategy follows a period of intense attrition during Operation Epic Fury, which the Centre for Strategic and International Studies reports exhausted nearly 50% of the Pentagon's Patriot missile stockpiles.

Despite these critical shortages, the United States Department of Defense has not signed new contracts for additional interceptors. This environment has forced the evacuation of thousands of troops from regional bases, leaving only 50,000 essential personnel in the area.