As US forces exchange heavy fire with Iran, military insiders warn President Trump that America’s arsenal of vital missiles is running dangerously low, raising urgent questions
US President Donald Trump has been warned that the US’ missile stockpile could run dangerously low if the war with Iran drags on. Military insiders have reportedly revealed that US supplies of interceptors and Tomahawk cruise missiles have already been heavily depleted by recent conflicts in the Middle East.
As both sides unleash devastating firepower, experts fear the US could run out of the vital weapons needed to fend off Iranian missile and drone attacks. Military sources reportedly made the worrying revelations to the Wall Street Journal.
They shared that the US’s stockpile of interceptors and Tomahawk cruise missiles has already been “eaten away” by recent battles with Iran and its allies.
The exact number of missiles left is reportedly top secret, but officials say Trump’s decision to strike first was a bid to cripple Iran’s ability to hit back. Trump told the Daily Mail the conflict could last “as long as a month”.
He also posted on his Truth Social that it will “continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD”. Experts reportedly warned the US could soon run low on key weapons like the Thaad antimissile system, Patriot missiles, and Tomahawks.
“One of the challenges is you can deplete these really quickly,” said Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center. “We’re using them faster than we can replace them.”
Becca Wasser, of the Center for a New American Security, said: “The Trump administration has fired TLAMs (Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles) at an extraordinary rate in operations around the globe, in the Middle East against Iran and the Houthis as well as in Nigeria on Christmas Day.”
She warned that in a possible war with China, “TLAMs are some of the first munitions to go within that first week.”
Meanwhile, US Central Command confirmed three American troops have died in the latest strikes.
Trump paid tribute to the fallen as “great people,” telling the Daily Mail: “And, you know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately.
“Could happen continuous – it could happen again.” He added, “We’ve done pretty well.
“But they’re great people, with outstanding records, outstanding.” Trump also insisted the war could be over in “about four weeks – or less”.
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