US faces critical ammunition shortages after months of war with Iran
In addition to ammunition shortages, there are other consequences (photo: Getty Images)
Pentagon officials acknowledged that in the first months of the war, the United States fired so much ammunition at targets in Iran that it created strategic shortages in stockpiles and exposed weaknesses in the industrial base, Bloomberg reports.
According to the Pentagon inspector general's report, procurement officials acknowledged in interviews with the independent oversight body of the United States Department of Defense that the country is facing shortages in its ammunition stockpiles.
They are "working to streamline procurement processes and production lead times, and to stockpile critical materials, components, and selected munitions to respond rapidly to a contingency," the report said.
Bloomberg writes that the document, which covers United States military operations in the war with Iran as of June 30, is an official confirmation of a problem that the Trump administration has repeatedly downplayed.
In particular, United States President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the United States allegedly has enormous ammunition stockpiles, far more than America could ever use in a war.
But according to the Pentagon inspector general's report, by the end of June, $22.3 billion worth of ammunition had been used during the war, while total spending over the period exceeded $33 billion.
United States Central Command also told the inspector that the Iranian military had damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings and structures at American bases in the region, while United States diplomatic missions in four countries were damaged in strikes.
The report also states that as of the end of July, 11 United States service members had been killed in combat, while another seven died during operations under Operation Epic Fury from causes unrelated to combat. By the end of June, more than 400 service members had been wounded in combat.
What else is important to know
In July, United States Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz denied reports that military arsenals were being depleted amid the conflict with Iran. According to him, the United States military has all the resources necessary to conduct the military campaign effectively.
According to The Wall Street Journal, in August the Pentagon asked the United States defense industry to quickly increase weapons production and deliveries, including ammunition that is in critically short supply because of the war with Iran.
