Missiles to munitions: Does the US risk running out of key weapons? | US-Israel war on Iran

The US Navy secretary, Hung Cao, stated that the pause in weapons sales to Taiwan is not due to a critical shortage of weapons but rather to ensure sufficient munitions for the ongoing Iran war. While officials project confidence in their stockpiles, analysts suggest dwindling munitions may influence Washington's calculations regarding resuming the war on Iran. The Pentagon and Israel defended their joint strategy of interceptor deployments, downplaying concerns about depleted weapons. However, a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) revealed that the US heavily used critical ammunitions like THAAD interceptors, Patriot missiles, and SM-3/SM-6 surface-to-air missiles during the Iran war. The CSIS report also stated that rebuilding to pre-war levels for these munitions could take from one to four years. The depletion of these weapons has raised concerns among US allies in Asia, particularly Japan and South Korea, who rely on Washington as a deterrent against potential threats from North Korea and China.