IRAN WAR LEAVES US FACING MAJOR WEAPONS STOCKPILE GAPS, PENTAGON REPORT FINDS

The United States military is facing significant ammunition shortages after the costly war with Iran consumed large quantities of American weapons, according to a new report by the US Department of Defense Inspector General. The report, which was submitted to Congress, said the expenditure of munitions during Operation Epic Fury had created strategic gaps in US weapons inventories while also exposing weaknesses in the defence industrial base responsible for replacing the depleted stockpiles.

The assessment covered the period from February 28 to June 30 and put the cost of the conflict during that period at about $33.4 billion. Of that amount, approximately $22.3 billion was spent on munitions, while $3.7 billion was attributed to equipment losses and another $7.4 billion to other expenses. The figures do not include the eventual cost of rebuilding or repairing military facilities damaged during Iranian attacks.

The report also highlighted significant losses of US military equipment during the conflict. At least 30 large US drones were destroyed, while American military bases and facilities across Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan sustained damage from Iranian attacks. The assessment further confirmed that Iran targeted the US Navy's main logistics hub in Bahrain with drones and ballistic missiles during the conflict.

The Pentagon watchdog said the heavy consumption of weapons had exposed bottlenecks in the US military's ability to replenish critical munitions. It said the Department of Defense was working to shorten procurement and production timelines while building stocks of important materials, components and selected weapons. The findings add to earlier concerns that the United States could require years to restore some depleted missile and interceptor inventories, particularly as production capacity remains limited.

The report comes despite repeated assurances from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump that the United States has sufficient weapons for its military operations. Trump has also rejected concerns about depleted stockpiles, saying the country is producing weapons at an unprecedented rate. However, the latest assessment provides an official confirmation that the Iran war has placed additional pressure on US ammunition reserves and highlighted the challenge of maintaining military readiness while replenishing weapons used during the conflict.