Fact Check: Has the US used nearly 80% of its missile interceptors in the Iran war?

WASHINGTON, DC: Several reports have raised concerns that the United States has significantly depleted its stockpile of key weapons during the ongoing Iran war. A widely shared claim now alleges that the US has used 85% of its key missile interceptors, warning that continued strikes on Iran could put even greater pressure on the country's air defense arsenal.

Claim: US has used 85% of its key missile interceptors in Iran war

The alleged reports revealed that the US has used a large number of its key weapons during the Iran conflict. Experts say this could affect the country's ability to respond to a future conflict with China or North Korea if the fighting continues.

Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said, "If the war continues at the rate it’s been going for the last [five] days … it would reduce stockpiles enough that there would be a new, higher level of risk … with the Indo-Pacific."

During the early phase of the conflict, known as Operation Epic Fury, the US military reportedly fired thousands of precision-guided missiles for long-range strikes and to defend against missile and drone attacks.

Michael O'Hanlon, who leads foreign policy research at the Brookings Institution, said there is “no doubt” that stockpiles are “lower than we would prefer.”

Fact Check: The claim is misleading

The claim is misleading. However, the specific claim that the US has used 80% of its key missile interceptors has not been independently verified. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also rejected those reports, accusing CNN of spreading "fake news."

According to an analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), some missile stockpiles, including the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) and the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), are expected to recover more quickly and could return to pre-war levels by mid-to-late 2027.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the US military remains fully prepared. He stated, “America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the President’s choosing.”

He added, “We have executed multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests.”

Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution said he does not believe the US military has yet lost its ability to deter China or North Korea.

However, he warned that if missile stockpiles continue to decline, that deterrence could weaken over time. He said it is impossible to know exactly when that point would be reached because it depends on how America's adversaries judge US military strength.