Watchdog says military facing munition shortage, spent $33 billion on Iran war

The U.S. military is grappling with a shortage of ammunition as a result of its expensive war in Iran, according to a new report by the Department of Defense's inspector general. The report, released in a first-of-its-kind mandatory review to Congress, details how Operation Epic Fury (OEF), the ongoing conflict, has cost an estimated $33.4 billion between February and June, with $22.3 billion spent on munitions alone.

This spending has led to strategic inventory shortfalls and challenges in resupplying munitions, impacting the military's ability to sustain its operations.

The report outlines significant losses among American assets, 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. Despite President Trump's repeated assurances that the U.S. possesses virtually unlimited ammunition, the report contradicts his claims, highlighting the real challenges faced by the military.

During the initial six months of the war, the United States targeted over 1,000 Iranian targets, as confirmed by US Central Command (CENTCOM). However, the conflict has also resulted in damage to numerous buildings and structures at U.S. bases across the Middle East, though the financial implications of these damages are not quantified in the report.

Industry experts, such as Mark Cancian from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, suggest that while the U.S. can currently manage the war against Iran, sustaining such efforts against a more formidable adversary like China presents a significant challenge. The Pentagon has refuted allegations of munition shortages, urging the defense industry to ramp up production, a strategy described by Lockheed Martin's Tim Cahill as "controlled chaos."