United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has rejected media reports claiming the military ran low on missile interceptors during conflict with Iran. Hegseth stated on the social network X that reports indicating the military used 80 percent of its THAAD air defense system interceptors are not true.
The defense secretary published his post alongside a television screen image from CNN. The broadcast featured a caption stating that sources reported the United States military had spent about 80 percent of its available stockpiles for the THAAD system.
In his social media post, Hegseth said the network banner was untrue and told CNN it should be ashamed. He added that the media was publishing fake news.
Reports on Missile Inventory
American television network CNN cited numerous unnamed sources familiar with the matter who said the military had used almost 80 percent of its THAAD interceptor missiles. The sources also reported that the military had expended half of its Patriot interceptors.
Separately, news agency Reuters reported on August 4 that the military used a significant portion of its global long-range precision missile arsenal during a five-month war with Iran. Citing three sources, Reuters reported that the usage primarily involved ATACMS and Precision Strike Missile, also known as PrSM, weapons systems. Two of those sources said the military used practically all of those specific weapons.
