Hegseth says US has enough munitions to continue Iran war ‘as long as we need to’

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed concerns on Thursday about the U.S. potentially depleting its arsenal of missiles and munitions during the ongoing conflict with Iran. Despite the sustained military strikes against Iran, Hegseth assured reporters that the U.S. has an ample supply of defensive and offensive weapons to continue the campaign as long as necessary.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, reported a significant decrease in Iranian missile attacks since the start of the conflict, with a 90% reduction in missile attacks and an 83% decrease in drone attacks. However, an Iranian drone attack resulted in the tragic death of six American troops in Kuwait on Sunday.

Hegseth emphasized that Iran’s belief that the U.S. cannot sustain its military efforts was a grave miscalculation. Each missile launched is costly and time-consuming to replace, prompting the Pentagon to invest heavily in accelerating munition production. Recent legislation has allocated billions of dollars towards munition procurement, with defense contractor Lockheed Martin partnering with the Pentagon to expedite missile development.

In the last three days, American aircraft have targeted nearly 200 sites deep within Iran, including locations around Tehran. B-2 stealth bombers have been deployed to drop specialized penetrating munitions on heavily fortified underground ballistic missile launchers, aiming to dismantle Iran’s intricate network of hardened underground facilities.

The Pentagon has not disclosed the financial toll of the conflict with Iran, but estimates suggest a substantial cost. Independent analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies approximates that the campaign is accruing around $891 million per day, totaling approximately $3.7 billion in the initial four days alone.

As the conflict persists, the U.S. remains resolute in its military capabilities and commitment to achieving its strategic objectives in the region. The ongoing campaign underscores the importance of maintaining a robust supply of munitions and strategic partnerships to sustain military operations in the face of evolving threats.