As the war between Iran and Israel enters its third week, Israeli officials have warned the United States that their stockpile of ballistic missile interceptors is rapidly running out.
According to unnamed U.S. officials cited by the news outlet Semafor, Israel has informed Washington that its supply of interceptor missiles—used to destroy incoming ballistic threats—has dropped to dangerously low levels amid continuous Iranian missile barrages.
Officials said Israel’s air defense network has been under intense pressure due to repeated Iranian missile strikes. The situation has been further complicated by reports that some Iranian missiles are equipped with cluster munitions, making them harder to intercept and forcing Israel to expend more interceptor missiles.
The report noted that Israel’s missile defense capabilities had already been weakened following a previous confrontation with Iran last year, during which large numbers of interceptors were used.
A U.S. official told Semafor that Washington had anticipated such a situation months ago. However, the official emphasized that the United States still maintains sufficient missile defense reserves and is not currently facing a similar shortage.
It remains unclear whether Washington will supply additional interceptors to Israel. Previous U.S. military aid packages included missile defense systems, but sending more equipment could put pressure on America’s own stockpiles.
Israeli media outlet The Times of Israel reported that Israel’s air defense system does not rely directly on American interceptors. On Sunday, the Israeli government also approved new emergency funding to procure additional weapons.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump recently claimed that the United States possesses virtually unlimited supplies of weapons.
Data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicates that during a 12-day confrontation with Iran in June last year, the United States fired more than 150 THAAD interceptors—nearly a quarter of its stockpile at the time. Reports also suggest that Washington spent about $2.4 billion worth of Patriot interceptors in the early days of the current conflict.
The escalating exchange of missile attacks has heightened concerns that a prolonged war could rapidly deplete advanced missile defense systems on both sides.
