Report Says U.S. Fired More Missiles Defending Israel Than Israeli Forces During Iran Conflict

Pentagon stockpiles reportedly strained after Operation Epic Fury consumed large numbers of advanced missile interceptors.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

The U.S. military reportedly expended more missile interceptors defending Israel during Operation Epic Fury than Israeli forces themselves, according to a new report citing Pentagon assessments and U.S. officials familiar with the operation.

According to The Washington Post, U.S. forces fired more than 200 THAAD interceptors during the Iran conflict, representing roughly half of the Pentagon’s total inventory of the advanced missile defense system.

American naval forces operating in the eastern Mediterranean also launched more than 100 SM-3 and SM-6 interceptors during the operation, according to the report.

By comparison, Israeli forces reportedly used fewer than 100 Arrow interceptors and approximately 90 David’s Sling interceptors.

One U.S. official told the newspaper that American forces fired roughly 120 more interceptors than Israel and engaged nearly twice as many incoming Iranian missiles.

The disclosures have intensified scrutiny over the cost and sustainability of U.S. military support for Israel’s missile defense operations amid continuing tensions with Iran.

President Donald Trump indicated earlier this week that military operations against Iran could resume if diplomatic negotiations fail.

“I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Daniel Caine, and The United States Military, that we will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

The White House and the Israeli Embassy in Washington did not immediately comment publicly on the report.

The heavy interceptor usage has raised concerns about broader U.S. missile stockpile depletion beyond the Middle East theater.

According to a recent analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the U.S. military may have already expended between 45% and 61% of its Patriot missile inventory during the conflict.

The CSIS report estimated that between 1,060 and 1,430 Patriot interceptors out of a total stockpile of approximately 2,330 missiles have been used.

The depletion could carry significant implications for U.S. treaty obligations in Asia, where allies such as Japan and South Korea rely heavily on American missile defense systems to counter threats from China and North Korea.

The Washington Post also reported that some Israeli missile defense batteries have recently been taken offline for maintenance, potentially increasing reliance on U.S. systems if hostilities resume.

Defense analysts warn that replenishing depleted missile stockpiles could take years.

According to the CSIS assessment, citing Department of War budget materials, some critical interceptor inventories may require more than five years to fully rebuild under current production capacity.

The report underscores growing concern inside defense circles over the strain prolonged high-intensity conflicts place on advanced munitions inventories, particularly as global tensions remain elevated across multiple regions simultaneously.