**US Military Faces Ammunition Shortfall Amid Ongoing Conflict with Iran**
*By Harry Bligh, Euronews World - Published on 15/09/2026*
The United States military is grappling with a significant shortfall in ammunition and advanced weaponry, a situation exacerbated by the ongoing conflict with Iran. A recent report from the US Defence Department's inspector general has highlighted the impact of the war, which began on February 28, 2026, and has led to substantial expenditures and resource depletion.
According to the report, the military operation, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury," has incurred an estimated cost of $33.4 billion (€29 billion) between its inception and June 30, 2026. Notably, $22.3 billion of this amount was allocated specifically for munitions, underscoring the heavy reliance on ammunition during the conflict. The intense scale of weaponry used has resulted in "strategic inventory shortfalls" and has revealed significant bottlenecks in the US defense industry's capacity to replenish supplies.
Experts project that it could take approximately three years to restore stocks of advanced missiles and defensive interceptors to pre-war levels. The report also documented considerable losses of military equipment, including the destruction of four F-15 fighter jets and damage to one F-35, along with the impairment of seven KC-135 tanker aircraft. The latter suffered damage or destruction, with five aircraft hit by Iranian munitions while stationed on the ground in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, up to 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones, valued at around $30 million (€26 million) each, were reported destroyed.
In light of these findings, President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns regarding ammunition shortages, asserting that the military's supplies are "virtually unlimited." He emphasized this point in a recent post on his Truth Social platform, where he claimed that the US is producing "more exquisite and elite weapons than at any time in our history." The Pentagon has echoed this sentiment, maintaining that the military possesses the necessary resources to engage in any conflict.
The inspector general's report also detailed extensive damage to US military bases as a result of Iranian strikes. Numerous facilities across Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan sustained damage, with hundreds of buildings affected. However, the cost associated with repairing or rebuilding these facilities has not been included in the $33.4 billion estimate, and US authorities have yet to determine the extent of reconstruction or the financial responsibility for these repairs.
As the conflict continues, the implications of the ammunition shortfall and equipment losses raise concerns about the US military's operational readiness and its ability to respond to emerging threats. The situation remains fluid, and the long-term effects of the war on US military capabilities are yet to be fully assessed.