Military Drain: Pentagon Warns of a 'Prolonged War' with Iran

SadaNews - Politico reported that officials in the Pentagon and Congress have warned that any prolonged Iranian strikes could lead to the depletion of U.S. military stockpiles to concerning levels, amid increasing consumption of defense munitions during recent military operations.

According to the report, military officials have expressed growing concerns since the beginning of the year about the decline in the stock of defense interceptors, especially with the heavy use of systems like "Standard-3" and "Patriot" in recent field missions.

They indicated that potential responses from Iran could leave tens of thousands of U.S. troops deployed in the region without adequate protection if the confrontation lasts for an extended period.

In contrast, the Pentagon denied the existence of a crisis in weapons stockpiles, confirming that U.S. forces still maintain full readiness to carry out any assigned mission. However, lawmakers warned that Washington's engagement in a prolonged conflict with Tehran could negatively impact its ability to deter China militarily.

As a preemptive measure, Congress has approved multi-year contracts aimed at increasing munitions production and accelerating military manufacturing, in an effort to bolster the strategic stockpile and avoid any potential shortages in the event of escalating tensions.