80% of key US missile defence interceptors gone amid Iran war: Reports

Stockpiles of critical air defence systems have been significantly depleted during the war.

According to two sources familiar with the matter, the US military has used nearly four-fifths of its THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile inventory compared with pre-war levels, while roughly half of its Patriot interceptors have also been expended since the conflict began.

Estimates by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) suggest that, before the war, the United States possessed around 2,200 Patriot missiles (across the platform's two most modern variants) and approximately 452 THAAD interceptors.

The dwindling stockpile has also raised concerns among US allies in the Gulf, who fear a shortage of air defence systems could undermine their ability to counter potential Iranian retaliation if President Donald Trump decides to escalate the conflict further.

Several Gulf nations rely heavily on US-supplied air defence systems and have privately acknowledged that depleted American stockpiles could weaken their own ability to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones, particularly if they become targets in response to any US military escalation, multiple officials told CNN.

The issue was reportedly raised again ahead of President Trump's decision last weekend to cancel planned strikes on Iran.

According to CNN, it marked at least the second occasion in recent weeks that Trump's senior military advisers warned him about the rapidly shrinking inventory of key US munitions during discussions over potential military escalation.

The US Army has also expended "virtually all" of its highly accurate long-range surface-to-air weapons during the conflict, a source familiar with recent internal Pentagon assessments told the network.

Meanwhile, the US stockpile of Tomahawk cruise missiles has also been significantly depleted, with nearly half of the inventory reportedly used since the war began, one of the sources said.

The White House, however, has dismissed reports of a munitions shortage.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told CNN that the US military "has more than enough munitions, ammo, and stockpiles to serve all of President Trump's strategic goals and beyond."

"'Operation Epic Fury' has exposed what happens when you mess with the United States. Even still, the President has urged our defence contractors to constantly produce more made-in-America weapons, which are the best in the world," Kelly added.

Defence analysts told CNN that replenishing the US inventory of advanced munitions, including Patriot interceptors, could take years because of the lengthy production timelines required for such sophisticated weapons.