The United States is facing a shortfall in munitions following its war with Iran, according to a new report by the US Department of Defense’s Inspector General.
The report, released Monday, said the heavy use of weapons during Operation Epic Fury, the US military campaign against Iran, resulted in “strategic inventory shortfalls” and exposed bottlenecks in the defence industry’s ability to replenish munitions.
The assessment covers the period from February 28 to June 30 and is the first congressionally mandated report by the Pentagon’s watchdog on the conflict.
The report estimated that the war cost the United States $33.4bn during the period reviewed, including $22.3bn spent on munitions, $3.7bn on equipment losses and $7.4bn on other expenses.
It also documented damage to US military facilities across the Middle East, with Iranian strikes damaging or destroying hundreds of buildings and structures at American bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan.
The report said the US military was working to address the supply problems by streamlining procurement processes and production timelines, while stockpiling critical materials, components and selected munitions.
The assessment comes after President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth rejected previous reports that US weapons stocks were running low.
Trump has repeatedly said the United States has large quantities of ammunition and is continuing to produce and deliver weapons to American forces.
The report also listed losses to US military equipment during the conflict, including four F-15 fighter jets destroyed, one F-35 damaged, seven KC-135 tanker aircraft damaged and up to 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones destroyed.
The findings could add pressure on the US defence industry to accelerate production and replenish weapons stocks as Washington continues to maintain military operations in the Middle East.
