Hegseth In Trouble As U.S. Army Leak Hits Trump

The U.S. Army has used a significant portion of its inventory of long-range precision missiles during the five-month conflict with Iran, raising concerns inside the Pentagon about America’s ability to respond to future military crises, according to officials familiar with the matter.

The weapons include the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and the newer Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), both of which are designed to strike targets accurately from long distances. According to multiple officials familiar with internal assessments, the military has used nearly all of the ATACMS and PrSM missiles that were available for the operation.

The weapons have played a central role in the campaign because they allow U.S. forces to strike targets without putting pilots at greater risk. Military analysts also consider them essential in any potential conflict involving major powers such as China or Russia.

Officials declined to disclose how many missiles remain in U.S. stockpiles, but several expressed concern that continued military operations could reduce inventories to levels that affect overall military readiness.

One defense official said U.S. Central Command has largely exhausted the land-based missile inventory it had at the start of the conflict but has been able to replenish supplies by drawing weapons from other military stockpiles around the world.

President Trump defended the nation’s military readiness, saying the United States still possesses more munitions than any other country and that American defense manufacturers are producing weapons at record levels while expanding production capacity.

The Pentagon also rejected suggestions that the military lacks the resources needed to carry out its missions. A Defense Department spokesperson said the U.S. military remains fully capable of executing operations whenever directed by the president while maintaining the ability to defend American interests worldwide.

Even so, defense experts have cautioned that although production has increased, rebuilding inventories of advanced missile systems takes time, particularly during an extended conflict.

Officials familiar with internal discussions said concerns over dwindling missile supplies have become a major topic inside the Trump administration as military leaders weigh how long current operations can continue without affecting America’s ability to respond elsewhere.

One official said the heavy use of long-range missiles reflects a deliberate strategy to avoid riskier air operations that would place American pilots in greater danger.

Military leaders have also warned the administration that supplies of defensive missile systems, including Patriot and THAAD interceptors, have declined significantly during the conflict. Those systems are critical for defending U.S. forces and allies from incoming ballistic missile attacks.

Defense analysts estimate that a large share of Patriot interceptors and THAAD missiles has already been expended, while officials also say the Navy has used a substantial portion of its Tomahawk cruise missile inventory during operations in the Middle East.

The growing demand for precision-guided weapons has prompted defense contractors to increase production as the Pentagon works to replenish stockpiles and prepare for future military contingencies.