Pentagon report admits ammunition shortages as a result of the Iran war

A U.S. Department of Defense regulator has acknowledged ammunition shortages as a result of the Iran war in its first official report to Congress. The consumption of ammunition as part of “Operation Epic Fury” (in German: “Operation Epic Fury”) caused “strategic inventory gaps” and “revealed bottlenecks in the defense industry when it comes to supplies,” said the report published on Monday (local time).

To reduce these shortages, the Defense Department is working to streamline procurement processes and production lead times and stockpile critical materials, components and select munitions "to respond quickly in an emergency," it said. The report was written by the Pentagon's Inspector General, an independent agency within the department. It covers the period from April 1st to June 30th.

The US broadcaster CNN and the Washington Post newspaper had previously reported on dwindling supplies, citing sources familiar with the matter. Above all, this involves long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot interceptor missiles, which Ukraine urgently needs at the moment. The report did not provide further information about these weapons.

Defense Minister Pete Hegseth has repeatedly rejected reports of ammunition shortages. US President Donald Trump had also repeatedly opposed such reports and threatened people who spread them with long prison sentences. On Monday, he wrote on his Truth Social platform that the United States was producing more weapons “than ever before in our history.” These would be delivered daily to military forces in the Middle East and beyond.