The United States military has used a significant portion of its key missile stockpiles during the recent war with Iran, according to a CNN report citing three individuals familiar with internal Pentagon assessments. The depletion raises concerns that the US could face ammunition shortages if new conflicts arise in the coming years. A recent analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that at least 45 percent of precision strike missiles, half of THAAD interceptors, and about 50 percent of Patriot air defense missiles were expended during the seven-week conflict.

Sources familiar with the review said these figures align with classified Pentagon data. While the US still retains enough weapons to continue operations against Iran if the fragile ceasefire collapses, it reportedly lacks sufficient munitions to sustain a large-scale conflict with a peer power such as China. The report added that restoring stockpiles to prewar levels could take several years.

The analysis also indicated that around 30 percent of Tomahawk missiles, over 20 percent of long-range Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, and about 20 percent of SM-3 and SM-6 missiles were used, with replenishment expected to take four to five years.