Before the Iran War, the US Held Roughly 2,200 Patriot and 452 Thaad Missiles, Per the Center for Strategic and International Studies

US commanders have warned that Pentagon ammunition stockpiles are "dangerously low, with the military having consumed nearly 80% of its interceptor missiles for a critical defense system, sources told CNN. Two sources familiar with the latest inventory report said the Army has used almost four-fifths of its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles and about half of its Patriot interceptors since the conflict with Iran began. One source said the Army expended "nearly all" of its highly accurate, long-range surface-to-air missiles during the fighting.

Before the Iran war, the US held roughly 2,200 Patriot and 452 THAAD missiles, per the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Gulf states that hosted US bases and faced Iranian retaliation have voiced concerns about how air-defense shortfalls could affect their ability to repel strikes if President Donald Trump escalates. Ammunition stock concerns resurfaced before Trump's decision last weekend to cancel new strikes on Iran.

Multiple sources said warnings about shortages, intelligence on potential impacts of attacks on Iranian infrastructure, and Gulf worries led the Pentagon to scrap strike plans despite final approval. A senior Republican official said Trump stepped back after consulting Middle East allies on Saturday. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said, "The US military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to conduct operations at a time and place of the President's choosing.

The outlet noted concerns underscore the severity of the missile shortfall and question US ability to sustain prolonged strikes on Iran. Rebuilding THAAD inventories to pre-war levels would take three or more years, the think tank estimated.