According to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, citing officials with the Pentagon, the United States is running low on key air defense missiles.
The report from the Journal highlights the recent demand for the Standard Missiles, as the US continues to supply them to Israel as it defends itself from Iranian missiles and Houthi drones.
The Standard Missile-3, or SM-3s, were reported to have been used in Israel’s defense against the Iranian attack in April. That attack saw Israel peppered with drones and missiles from Iran.
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More recently, Iran fired 200 ballistic missiles toward Israel in retaliation to an Israeli attack on Hezbollah and Iran’s top military leaders.
Israel then responded to that attack over the weekend, which sources said was coordinated with the US, according to reports.
However, deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh said there was no direct US involvement.
“There was no US military role in Israel’s operation on Friday night,” Singh said to members of the media.
Now, US officials are warning that the low supply of missiles could leave the military vulnerable in a potential conflict in the Pacific. Officials also shared that they are afraid the US is running through its stockpile faster than it can replenish it.
More than 100 Standard Missiles have been used by the US since Hamas launched its surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2024.
With the ongoing back and forth, Israel may soon find itself having to play defense once more if its leaders escalate things further. But, with how quickly missiles are being used, experts worry that the US isn’t equipped to handle the requests.
“The US has not developed a defense industrial base intended for a large-scale war of attrition in both Europe and the Middle East, while meeting its own readiness standards,” Elias Yousif of the Stimson Center in Washington told the Journal.
Raytheon, the weapons manufacturer behind the SM-3s, shared earlier this month that it was in “full-rate production” for the projectiles with “increased demand for the product from the United States and allies partners.”
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