Israel told the US this week that it is running critically low on ballistic missile interceptors as its conflict with Iran continues. These interceptors are among the most effective defensive weapons against long-range attacks, making this a significant development.
According to Semafor, Israel had already entered the current war with a reduced supply of interceptors, largely due to their use during last summer’s conflict with Iran. Reports indicate that Iran has been adding cluster munitions to its missiles, which may be speeding up how quickly Israel’s stock is being used up.
US officials confirmed they have been aware of Israel’s shrinking supply for several months. One US official said, “It’s something we expected and anticipated,” while also noting that the US is not facing a similar shortage of its own interceptors.
The US is confident in its own stockpiles, but questions remain over sharing with Israel
The key question now is whether the US will sell or share some of its interceptors with Israel, which would put pressure on America’s own supplies. The US official stated, “We have all that we need to protect our bases and our personnel in the region and our interests,” adding that Israel is “coming up with solutions to address” their shortage.
President Trump said earlier this month that the US has a “virtually unlimited” munitions stockpile. However, analysts have consistently suggested that US stockpiles are lower than what the military would prefer.
Last June, the US reportedly fired over 150 THAAD interceptors during a 12-day conflict with Iran, which some believe was about a quarter of the entire US inventory at the time. Reports also suggest the US used roughly $2.4 billion worth of Patriot interceptors in just the first five days of the current conflict. Israel’s strikes on Iranian targets, including attacks on Tehran’s fuel depots, have further intensified the pace of the war.
The Pentagon began substantially increasing its production of the THAAD missile defense system in January. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told a news outlet that the department “has everything it needs to execute any mission at the time and place of” President Trump’s choosing.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that US stockpiles are “more than enough” to achieve President Trump’s goals against Iran “and beyond.” She added that Trump is always “focused on strengthening our Armed Forces and he will continue to call on defense contractors” to quickly build US-made weapons.
Leavitt also said, “The United States Military’s accomplishments alongside the Israel Defense Forces speak for themselves – Iranian drone attacks are down 95 percent, ballistic missile attacks are down 90 percent, and the regime’s dismal situation will only get worse.”
The broader conflict has also drawn attention to Israel’s expanding military campaign in Lebanon, raising further questions about how long Israel’s interceptor supply can last. While interceptors are highly effective against long-range threats, Israel also has other defense options, including fighter jets and its Iron Dome system, which is mainly designed to handle shorter-range fire.
Published: Mar 15, 2026 09:45 am