The U.S. military campaign against Iran has sharply depleted American ammunition reserves, leaving the Pentagon with shortages in its strategic stockpiles and serious difficulties replacing what was used. The scale of the problem is detailed in a report by the Pentagon inspector general reviewed by RIA Novosti.

During the first four months of Operation Epic Fury, heavy weapons consumption exposed weaknesses in the U.S. defense industrial base. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment acknowledged that the campaign reduced critical reserves while revealing how difficult it would be to replenish them quickly.

Production capacity has become one of the main obstacles. The Pentagon identified problems with manufacturing solid-fuel rocket motors, shortages of explosives and missile-propellant components, and a lack of qualified workers needed to increase output.

The Defense Department is now trying to rebuild depleted inventories by changing procurement procedures and production schedules. It is also creating reserves of critical materials, components and selected munitions intended to provide faster access to supplies in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Another priority is increasing output from existing production lines. The Pentagon is working with lawmakers on expanding manufacturing capacity, strengthening vulnerable supply chains and deepening cooperation with allies to help offset the reduction in U.S. stockpiles.

The scale of ammunition use was previously reported by The New York Times. According to the newspaper, the United States nearly exhausted its stock of stealth cruise missiles during the conflict with Iran, fired an amount of Tomahawk missiles equivalent to a decade’s supply and consumed roughly two years' worth of Patriot missile production.

The financial cost was equally substantial. According to the inspector general’s report, Operation Epic Fury cost U.S. taxpayers $33.4 billion during its first four months.

Of that total, $22.3 billion went toward expended ammunition. Another $7.4 billion covered other costs associated with the campaign, while losses of military equipment were valued at $3.7 billion. The estimate did not include the cost of repairing damaged infrastructure.

Over the same four-month period, U.S. forces carried out around 36,000 combat sorties and struck approximately 13,500 targets in Iran.