SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region of Iraq —By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis 

 Sources cited in media reports claim U.S. commanders warned President Donald Trump that key long-range and missile-defense inventories were being depleted during operations against Iran, highlighting concerns about readiness for future conflicts.

Reports claim U.S. military leaders warned President Trump about declining missile stockpiles during operations against Iran, raising broader questions about U.S. military readiness.

Questions are emerging over the sustainability of U.S. military operations after multiple informed sources reportedly said that American stockpiles of some of its most advanced long-range and missile-defense weapons have been significantly reduced following recent operations in the Middle East.

According to sources cited in media reports, the U.S. military has expended large numbers of ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles and the newer Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)—two of Washington's most important long-range precision-strike weapons.

The sources did not disclose exact inventory levels, but said the remaining stockpiles have become a growing concern for military planners.

Weapons Designed for High-End Warfare

ATACMS has played a prominent role in recent conflicts, including Ukraine, allowing forces to strike high-value targets from long distances with precision.

Its successor, the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), offers greater range and improved capabilities and is expected to become the U.S. Army's primary long-range tactical missile.

Defense analysts estimate that each missile costs well over $1 million, making them both strategically valuable and difficult to replace quickly.

Military planners also consider these systems critical in any future conflict involving China, where long-range precision strikes would be essential against heavily defended targets.

Trump: America Has More Than Enough Weapons

Responding to reports of shortages, President Donald Trump rejected suggestions that U.S. military readiness was being compromised.

According to a White House statement, Trump said:

"The United States has far more ammunition than any other country."

He added that U.S. defense manufacturers have expanded production capacity and are producing weapons at record levels.

While defense experts generally agree that American arms production has increased substantially in recent years, many caution that manufacturing may still struggle to keep pace during a prolonged, high-intensity conflict involving multiple theaters.

Neither Lockheed Martin, which manufactures ATACMS, PrSM, and THAAD interceptors, nor RTX (formerly Raytheon), which produces Patriot and Tomahawk missiles, publicly commented on the reported inventory levels.

Military Leaders Reportedly Urged Caution

According to the reports, senior U.S. commanders warned the Trump administration for weeks that inventories of several critical weapons—including Patriot missile interceptors—were declining.

The concerns reportedly became part of internal White House discussions over whether additional strikes against Iran could weaken America's ability to respond to future crises elsewhere, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.

Some reports suggested that these military assessments contributed to Trump's decision not to authorize further attacks inside Iran.

However, a U.S. official disputed that interpretation, saying the president instead halted additional operations following diplomatic pressure from Gulf partners.

Missile Defense Also Under Strain

The reported concerns extend beyond offensive weapons.

According to a recent analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), approximately 65% of available Patriot interceptor missiles assigned to recent operations were used between February and July.

The think tank also estimated that U.S. inventories of THAAD interceptors declined by at least 38% during the same period.

Two sources familiar with U.S. military data reportedly said those estimates broadly matched internal assessments.

Another source claimed that roughly half of the U.S. inventory of Tomahawk cruise missiles had also been used since the conflict began.

These figures have not been independently verified by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Strategic Implications

If accurate, the reports underscore a broader challenge facing the United States: balancing immediate military operations in the Middle East while preserving enough advanced munitions to deter or respond to potential conflicts elsewhere.

The debate reflects a growing concern among defense analysts that modern warfare can consume precision-guided weapons far faster than they can be manufactured, forcing policymakers to weigh short-term battlefield requirements against long-term strategic readiness.

Whether current production rates can replenish these inventories quickly enough remains an open question, particularly as geopolitical tensions continue to rise across multiple regions.

 #USMilitary #Trump #Iran #China #Defense