US Depletes Missile Stockpiles Following Conflict With Iran

The United States military has depleted nearly its entire global stockpile of high-precision offensive missiles, including Tomahawks, Precision Strike Missiles, and ATACMS. This shortage follows a conflict launched by President Donald Trump against Iran. Defensive capabilities are similarly compromised, with reports indicating the loss of two-thirds of Patriot missiles and nearly half of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense systems.

The munitions crisis has forced the cancellation of a planned strike this month and constrained further military escalation. While the Pentagon is pressuring manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon to accelerate production, replenishment is expected to take years.

Internal tensions have emerged within the administration. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine reportedly warned the president about ordnance scarcity before the February attacks on Iran. Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faces accusations of misleading the president regarding military lethality and the extent of the depletion. The shortage has diminished U.S. deterrence capabilities globally, potentially impacting stability in NATO's eastern flank, the Korean peninsula, and Taiwan, while limiting weaponry available for Ukraine.