After months of fighting, the U.S. military suddenly realized: its "gatekeeper marvels" at home are running dangerously low.

Multiple informed sources revealed that nearly 80% of the U.S. military's most advanced air defense interceptors have already been depleted. Senior commanders have privately warned that Pentagon ammunition stocks have reached a "dangerously low level."

This depletion has primarily occurred during conflicts with Iran. Two critical weapon systems are particularly strained: the "THAAD" system, designed to intercept high-altitude incoming missiles; and the "Patriot" system, responsible for medium- and low-altitude defense. According to insiders familiar with the latest inventory reports, the United States has already used up nearly three-quarters of its pre-war THAAD missile stockpile, and roughly half of its Patriot interceptors. It’s worth noting that before the conflict began, the U.S. had only about 2,200 advanced Patriot missiles and 452 THAAD missiles. In other words, its strategic reserves are nearly exhausted.

Even more troubling is the growing anxiety among U.S. allies in the Gulf region. These nations similarly rely on America’s protective air shield. If the U.S. decides to further escalate hostilities against Iran, these allies fear they could become targets of Iranian retaliation—and at that point, the U.S. may not have enough ammunition left to protect them.

Last weekend, President Trump had originally planned a new large-scale strike on Iran, even issuing "go" orders to the Secretary of Defense. But at the last minute, Trump called it off. Why? On one hand, military advisors repeatedly warned of insufficient ammunition. On the other, intelligence indicated that striking Iran’s energy infrastructure could cause massive civilian casualties. Meanwhile, Gulf allies desperately urged restraint, arguing that if Iran retaliates, they simply couldn’t bear the consequences. Trump heeded these warnings, temporarily halting the operation—but did not rule out future action.

Yet publicly, Pentagon and White House officials remain optimistic, insisting that "U.S. munitions are sufficient to achieve all strategic objectives" and calling on defense contractors to ramp up production. But private inventory figures tell a different story—beyond air defense missiles, nearly half of the long-range "Tomahawk" cruise missiles have also been consumed, and the Army’s precision long-range ground-to-air weapons are almost completely depleted. Replenishment rates are shockingly slow: only about 15 Tomahawks and 20 Patriots arrive each month. Restoring THAAD inventories to pre-war levels will take at least three years.

Experts are also concerned that if current ammunition is further expended in the Iran theater, the U.S. might be unable to mount even a first-round defense should future conflicts erupt with China, Russia, or North Korea. One insider put it bluntly: “We don’t have enough interceptors—drones can easily break through. This tit-for-tat confrontation will never end.”

This exposes a painful truth behind American military supremacy: seemingly invincible force is actually unsustainable in a mid-intensity, prolonged conflict.

On the surface, the U.S. possesses the world’s most advanced weapon systems. But "advanced" often means expensive, complex, and long production cycles. The conflict with Iran was not a full-scale war, yet it has already consumed nearly 80% of the top-tier interceptors—revealing the fatal flaw in the U.S. military’s strategy: high-tech but low quantity. Once caught in multi-front confrontations or protracted warfare, the stockpile crisis will directly undermine its deterrent power.

Even more telling is the decision-making process. Trump canceled the strike at the last moment—not out of "mercy," but because the military itself lacked confidence. Insufficient ammunition, risk of civilian casualties, and allied opposition created a triple pressure that turned "going to war" into a high-stakes gamble. This reflects America’s dilemma in the Middle East: wanting to use force to suppress Iran, yet realizing it cannot afford the cost of sustained conflict.

The contradiction between the White House’s public claim of "ample munitions" and the private reality of dwindling supplies once again underscores the gap between official rhetoric and actual facts. The production speed of the military-industrial complex falls far behind the pace of wartime consumption. Rebuilding stocks will take years—meaning that for the next few years, U.S. overseas military operations will have to proceed with greater caution—or greater recklessness.

In the end, this stockpile crisis reminds the world: no matter how strong a fist may be, if it only has a few bullets left, it won’t intimidate an opponent truly willing to fight to the death. The U.S. must reevaluate how long the illusion of security built on missile stockpiles can actually hold.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872670414767112/

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