Iran strikes threaten to deplete US weapons supplies — and put American troops at risk

The administration already burned through significant stockpiles of air defense missiles in operations against Iran and its proxy groups.

US Airforce KC-46 Pegasus tankers and one P-8 Poseidon tankersfrom the US Navy are seen stationed at Lajes Air Base in the Azores on February 23, 2026. The United States has intensified its use of the air base amid tensions with Iran. | Antonio Araujo/AFP/Getty Images

Pentagon officials and Hill lawmakers are increasingly warning that prolonged Iran strikes could stress U.S. military stockpiles to the brink and make the country more vulnerable.

Gen. Dan Caine, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chair, has raised concerns about the military’s shortage of air defense interceptors since January, according to a person familiar with the conversations. But the fears have magnified in recent weeks as the Pentagon amassed the largest military buildup in the Middle East since the Iraq War.

They follow a huge expansion of the nation’s military operations. President Donald Trump has often relied on the Pentagon to pursue his foreign policy goals — from capturing Venezuela’s leader to killing alleged drug traffickers, bombing Yemen’s Houthi group and striking Iran last year to decimate its nuclear program. Many of these operations burned through significant numbers of Standard Missile-3s, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors and Patriot missiles.

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