U.S. Officials Say Advanced Weapons Stockpiles Are Being Depleted Too Quickly

According to Jin10, U.S. military and intelligence officials said Washington is concerned that U.S. air defense interceptors and precision-guided weapons are being used up quickly as the U.S. has stepped up military operations against Iran. The officials, who requested anonymity, said the pace of precision-guided weapons consumption in the early stages of U.S. operations against Iran is now hard to sustain, and the U.S. military is shifting more toward satellite-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions and Small Diameter Bombs. The U.S. military also used long-range cruise missiles such as the Joint Standoff Weapon and Tomahawk cruise missiles more frequently at the start of the fighting, though officials said those weapons are still in stock and are being used more cautiously. Air defense interceptors have been used extensively to protect U.S. interests in countries along the Persian Gulf, where U.S. bases have come under attack from Iranian drones and missiles. Some regional partner countries believe the fighting should be paused, given Iran's continued heavy strikes on targets in countries including Kuwait and Bahrain.