The US war with Iran has caused shortages in American munitions and created bottlenecks in the replenishment of weapons, according to a report by the Pentagon’s inspector general.
The report contradicts repeated claims by President Donald Trump that the United States has virtually unlimited supplies of ammunition.
According to the independent watchdog, the US spent more than $22 billion on munitions between February and June, resulting in what it described as “strategic inventory shortfalls”.
The report also identified bottlenecks in the US defence industry that have slowed the replenishment of munitions.
The White House, however, rejected the assessment, saying the US military had enough weapons and ammunition to meet its objectives.
“The United States military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and stockpiles to serve all of the Commander-in-Chief’s strategic goals and beyond,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said on Tuesday.
The inspector general’s report provides an unusual public insight into US weapons stockpiles, much of which is normally classified.
US forces used large quantities of long-range strike weapons as well as air and missile defence systems during the war.
A July estimate by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that stocks of some interceptors, including Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missiles, had fallen significantly, in some cases by more than half.
The Pentagon watchdog did not disclose the number of weapons remaining but confirmed inventory shortfalls and “industrial base bottlenecks” affecting resupply.
The Defence Department said it was working to speed up procurement and production processes to address the shortages and prepare for future military contingencies.
Trump has repeatedly rejected reports of US weapons shortages.
On August 4, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described reports about the shortages as “not true”.
Trump also wrote on Truth Social on September 3 that the US had “virtually unlimited” ammunition and was stockpiling weapons to prepare for any contingency.
The inspector general said equipment losses during the conflict amounted to $3.7 billion, while another $7.4 billion was spent on other costs.
Overall, the US spent $33.4 billion on the war between February 28 and June 30, according to the report.
A separate estimate released by the Congressional Budget Office put the cost at $38 billion. The figure included the replacement of expended munitions and lost equipment, as well as increased flying hours and fuel costs.
The military losses included four F-15E fighter jets, an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and 30 MQ-9 drones destroyed in various circumstances.
Trump initially said the conflict would end within weeks but has more recently suggested that it could continue until after the November midterm elections.
The war has also faced opposition among Americans. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released in early September found that 23 per cent of Americans, including half of Republicans, believed the US was in a stronger position against Iran than before the conflict began.
