WASHINGTON — The United States faces a significant munitions shortfall as a result of its ongoing military campaign against Iran, according to a Defense Department inspector-general report released on September 14. The assessment challenges President Donald Trump’s repeated statements assuring the public that ammunition stockpiles remain ample.

The report, submitted to Congress, detailed that from February 28 to June 30, the estimated cost of Operation Epic Fury (OEF)—the US-led and Israeli-supported campaign aimed at diminishing Iran’s military capabilities—reached approximately US$33.4 billion. Of that, US$22.3 billion was attributed to expended munitions. The inspector-general highlighted that this rate of expenditure has led to strategic inventory shortages and exposed production bottlenecks within the defense industrial base responsible for replenishing munitions.

To address the supply challenges, the Pentagon is reportedly taking steps to accelerate procurement processes, shorten production lead times, and stockpile critical materials and select munitions. However, the report acknowledges that scaling up manufacturing capacity will require substantial time.

The shortfall introduces complications for US partners such as Ukraine and Taiwan, both of which depend on American arms supplies to counter larger regional adversaries. Ukraine has expressed a pressing need for additional interceptor missiles for its Patriot air defense systems amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, while Taiwan relies on arms agreements with Washington to deter potential aggression from China.

Despite growing concerns, President Trump dismissed shortages in his public communications. On September 14, he reiterated on his Truth Social platform that the US military is producing more advanced and elite weapons than at any prior time in history. Previous media reports have indicated that shortages of long-range guided missiles and air defense interceptors have constrained US tactical options, including a near depletion of 80 percent of the inventory of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors.

During the first day of the conflict, the US military conducted strikes against more than 1,000 targets, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM), although similar large-scale operations have not recurred in subsequent months. The report also noted hardware losses suffered by the US fleet, including the destruction of four F-15 fighter jets, damage to one F-35, damage to seven KC-135 tanker aircraft, and the loss of up to 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones.

Iran has targeted the US Navy’s principal logistics hub in Bahrain with drone and ballistic missile attacks. Additionally, Iranian strikes have damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings and installations at US bases across the Gulf region, including locations in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan. The report did not account for reconstruction costs, citing ongoing assessments regarding which bases might be rebuilt and the question of funding responsibility.

As of June 30, seven US service members were confirmed killed in combat operations related to OEF, with an additional seven deaths occurring in non-hostile incidents. The US and Israel initiated Operation Epic Fury on February 28.

The conflict stems from longstanding Western allegations that Iran seeks to develop nuclear weapons—a claim Tehran has consistently denied.