The United States is facing a shortfall in ammunition as a result of its war against Iran, the Defence Department's inspector general has confirmed, contrasting with US President Donald Trump's assertions of full stocks.

In a first-of-its-kind mandatory report to Congress, the inspector on Monday said that between February 28 and June 30, Operation Epic Fury (OEF) had an estimated cost of US$33.4 billion, including US$22.3 billion spent on expended munitions.

"The munitions expenditure on OEF has resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply," the report said.

OEF is the US name for its joint campaign with Israel to "destroy Iran's ability to project military power," according to US Central Command.

To deal with shortfalls and delays, the Pentagon is "working to streamline procurement processes and production lead times, and to stockpile critical materials, components, and selected munitions," the report said.

It noted that expanding production capacities requires "significant lead time."

Trump has repeatedly brushed off concerns of depleted weapons stores during the six months of war in the Middle East, saying recently that the United States has "virtually unlimited" ammunition.

On Monday he posted on his Truth Social platform that the United States is producing "more Exquisite and Elite Weapons than at any time in our History".

CNN previously reported shortages of long-range guided missiles and air-defence interceptors had affected Trump's strategy in the conflict with Iran, with the US military having "nearly exhausted 80 percent" of its stock of Thaad interceptors.

During the first 24 hours of war against Iran, the United States struck more than 1,000 targets, the Central Command has said, and has not returned to such large scale attacks in recent months.

The report identified losses to the American fleet, including four F-15s fighters destroyed, one F-35 fighter damaged, seven KC-135 tanker aircraft damaged and up to 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones destroyed.

It also confirmed that the US Navy's main logistics hub in the region, located in Bahrain, had been targeted by Iran with drone and ballistic missile strikes.

Hundreds of buildings and structures at US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan have been damaged or destroyed by Iranian strikes during the conflict.

The report does not include those costs in its estimates, saying it is not yet clear if all the bases will be rebuilt, or who will foot the bill. (AFP)



Edited by Tony Sabine