US has used 'virtually all' of its long-range precision missiles during Iran war, sources say

Lead

The US Army has used up much of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during its five-month war with Iran, according to three people familiar with the data, raising concerns about the military's readiness for future conflicts. The reports, carried by the Jerusalem Post and the South China Morning Post, cite sources who say the US has used "virtually all" of its Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM).

Coverage Comparison

The Jerusalem Post, which first reported the story, emphasizes the military readiness concerns, describing the situation as a "dramatic rundown" in precision, long-range missiles. The piece notes that President Donald Trump may have to rely more on riskier, piloted bombing missions if he relaunches large-scale attacks on Iran. The South China Morning Post presents the same facts in a more neutral tone, focusing on the depletion itself without the editorialized language. TASS, the Russian state news agency, also reported the story, citing Reuters as its source, and highlighted the implications for US ability to respond to crises elsewhere, particularly in deterring Russia and China.

All three outlets agree on the core facts: the US has used up much of its stockpile of ATACMS and PrSM, each costing over $1 million, and these weapons are critical for accurate long-range strikes. They also note that US-supplied ATACMS have played a key role in the war in Ukraine, allowing Ukrainian forces to attack targets inside Russia.

Key Claims

• According to three people familiar with the data, the US Army has used up much of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during the conflict with Iran.
• Two of the sources said the US has used "virtually all" of its ATACMS and PrSM weapons.
• The long-range munitions, which cost more than $1 million each, are an important part of the military's arsenal, allowing accurate strikes from a safe distance.
• US-supplied ATACMS have played a key role in the war in Ukraine, enabling Ukrainian forces to attack targets inside Russia.
• The PrSM is a newer, more advanced generation that will replace the ATACMS, which have a shorter range.
• Dwindling missile supplies could limit the US ability to respond to crises elsewhere, particularly to deter adversaries such as Russia and China, as reported by multiple sources.
• US Central Command has been able to replenish stocks from other US military depots worldwide, but the scope for further missile strikes against Iran is limited.
• The sources declined to say how many of each munition the US had left.
• President Donald Trump launched the war with Iran jointly with Israel in February, predicting it would last a short time.

Perspectives

This article does not include a perspectives section as the material does not contain distinct viewpoints from named parties beyond the sources' reports.