WP: US fires over 850 Tomahawk missiles in four weeks of conflict with Iran

The United States has launched more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles during four weeks of armed conflict with Iran, a rate of use that has raised concerns within the Pentagon, according to the Washington Post citing officials familiar with the matter.

Sources told the newspaper that the heavy expenditure of precision-guided munitions has alarmed some Defense Department officials and prompted internal discussions about how to replenish and expand available stockpiles. The majority of the missiles were reportedly fired during the initial phase of the military operation against Tehran.

While the Pentagon does not publicly disclose exact inventory figures, only a few hundred Tomahawk missiles are believed to be produced annually. Officials cited in the report said the Defense Department is closely monitoring usage rates and assessing how the depletion of stockpiles could affect ongoing operations against Iran as well as potential future military engagements.

One official described the current inventory levels as “alarmingly low,” while another warned that U.S. forces in the Middle East could soon exhaust their available Tomahawk supplies.

In addition to cruise missiles, the United States has reportedly used more than 1,000 interceptor missiles in response to Iranian strikes, including munitions for Patriot air defence systems and THAAD missile defence systems. The exact number of these interceptors in U.S. stockpiles is not publicly known but is also considered limited. 

By Sabina Mammadli