US military says Iran war has led to munitions shortfall

“VIRTUALLY UNLIMITED”

Trump has repeatedly brushed off concerns of depleted weapons stores during the six months of war in the Middle East, saying recently that the US has “virtually unlimited” ammunition.

On Monday he posted on his Truth Social platform that the US is producing “more Exquisite and Elite Weapons than at any time in our History”.

CNN has previously reported shortages of long-range guided missiles and air-defence interceptors had affected Trump’s strategy in the conflict with Iran, with the US military having “nearly exhausted 80 per cent” of its stock of THAAD interceptors.

During the first 24 hours of war against Iran, the United States struck more than 1,000 targets, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said, and has not returned to such large-scale attacks in recent months.

The report identified losses to the American fleet, including four F-15s fighters destroyed, one F-35 fighter damaged, seven KC-135 tanker aircraft damaged and up to 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones destroyed.

It also confirmed that the US Navy’s main logistics hub in the region, located in Bahrain, had been targeted by Iran with drone and ballistic missile strikes.

Hundreds of buildings and structures at US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan have been damaged or destroyed by Iranian strikes during the conflict.

The report does not include those costs in its estimates, saying it is not yet clear if all the bases will be rebuilt, or who will foot the bill.

As of Jun 30, seven US service members had been killed in action and seven killed in non-hostile events during OEF combat operations, the report said.

An additional 417 service members were wounded in action, it added.

The US and Israel launched the war against Iran on Feb 28.

For decades, Western powers have accused the Islamic republic of seeking nuclear weapons, a claim that Tehran categorically denies.