President Donald Trump has expressed frustration over reports of the US military’s dwindling munitions stockpile, which he believes undermines his negotiating position with Iran. According to senior US officials, Trump has been aware of the issue for months but is concerned that the information has been made public at a critical juncture in the conflict.
Background
The US military has reportedly burned through nearly four-fifths of its THAAD missile inventory and roughly half of its Patriot interceptors since the start of the war with Iran. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that the US had around 2,200 Patriots and 452 THAAD missiles in its stockpile before the war began.
Trump has tasked the Justice Department with finding individuals within the administration who are disclosing information about the munitions stockpile, which he considers treasonous. The president has also invoked the Defense Production Act to force defense companies to manufacture more weapons, but this is expected to take years and may not immediately boost production.
International Implications
The depletion of US munitions has raised concerns among Gulf leaders, who rely on US air defense systems to ward off potential Iranian retaliation. Iran has conveyed to Gulf nations that renewed American attacks would result in retaliation on energy sites or desalination facilities across the region.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
