US-Iran war strains American weapons stockpiles, delays allied deliveries: NYT

CAIRO – 8 August 2026: The US war against Iran has sharply depleted American weapons stockpiles, particularly air-defense missiles, the New York Times reported on Saturday, citing senior officials.

The war has also forced the Pentagon to divert military equipment from Europe and Asia to the Middle East, according to the officials.

The conflict has consumed thousands of multimillion-dollar precision-guided missiles, while US forces have used up significant stocks of air-defense systems to counter Iranian attacks, according to the report.

The shortages have prompted Washington to delay some weapons deliveries to European and Asian allies, raising concerns about America’s ability to respond to other threats.

The Pentagon has also redeployed ships, aircraft and air-defense units from Europe and Asia to support the Iran campaign, with officials warning of longer-term effects on military readiness, equipment maintenance and troop morale.

Although the White House says the US retains sufficient firepower for any operation ordered by President Donald Trump, officials and experts warn that replenishing depleted munitions could take years.

The shortages also reportedly contributed to Trump’s decision to scale back a major bombing campaign last month, underscoring the wider military costs of the war, according to the report.