Pentagon acknowledges ammunition shortage linked to Iran operation

The Pentagon has, for the first time, acknowledged a shortfall of ammunition connected to U.S. operations against Iran, according to a report by the department’s inspector general.

"The ammunition requirements during Operation 'Epic Fury' led to shortages in strategic stockpiles and revealed obstacles for the munition replenishment industry," the report states, while also outlining steps the Defense Department has taken to rapidly increase production.

What the report found

The document says the demand created by the operation strained long‑term reserves and exposed bottlenecks in the industrial base responsible for replenishing munitions. It lists measures the Pentagon has implemented to expand output.

In June, media reports said the United States had restricted the use of certain missiles, especially interceptors. The administration denied those claims at the time, and President Donald Trump insisted the country possessed "huge amounts of ammunition."

At the start of this month the president again wrote that the United States had "practically unlimited amounts of ammunition." Media outlets have reported that concerns about ammunition availability were a factor in Mr. Trump’s decision not to carry out larger strikes against Tehran this summer.

Photo: press material from the event