PNN – A Western media outlet reported that the status of U.S. missile stockpiles—particularly Patriot missiles—is critical due to the conflict with Iran.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; a U.S. defense official in Europe and a NATO official told the Associated Press that the U.S. military is facing a shortage of advanced interceptor missiles in Europe that has gone “beyond critical levels,” a situation largely driven by U.S. President Donald Trump’s conflict with Iran.
The U.S. defense official stated that the most concerning shortage involves Patriot interceptor missiles—missiles capable of shooting down high-speed Russian ballistic missiles. The NATO official also confirmed the low levels of Patriot missile stockpiles among U.S. and NATO forces in Europe.
This U.S. defense official stated that if Russia were to launch a ballistic missile attack against a military base or power plant, NATO could find itself in a situation similar to Ukraine’s and sustain a hit.
According to the official, the U.S. military in Europe “definitely” lacks a sufficient number of Patriot missiles to halt a potential sustained ballistic missile attack and possesses only “very limited capability” to defend against a single ballistic missile strike or a stray Russian missile that has veered off course.
The Associated Press reported that this situation illustrates the chain reaction triggered by Trump’s decision to launch a war against Iran—a conflict that enters its sixth month on Friday. U.S. missile stockpiles have been transferred from Europe to the Middle East, where the U.S. and its Gulf allies have fired a significant number of interceptor missiles, including Patriots, to counter Iranian drones and missiles. Some of these attacks have resulted in casualties among U.S. forces.