The United States lacks the military resources and allied support needed to carry out a successful ground operation against Iran following the congressional midterm elections, according to Russian military expert and air defense historian Yuri Knutov.

Knutov argued that a US ground offensive is not a realistic option because Washington does not have sufficient forces or allies to support such a campaign.

Another major obstacle, he said, is the limited supply of missiles for American Patriot air defense systems. According to the expert, estimates of the remaining US stockpile vary considerably, ranging from 800 to 1,700 interceptor missiles.

Knutov also highlighted the rapid consumption of air defense ammunition during previous hostilities involving Iran. At certain points in the confrontation, American forces reportedly fired as many as 80 Patriot missiles in a single day.

Given that rate of expenditure, the analyst described launching a new military escalation with the available missile reserves as an unreasonable decision.

He also warned that renewed hostilities could expose American military facilities to retaliatory strikes far beyond the immediate conflict zone. According to Knutov, Tehran has the capability to target US military installations not only in Israel but also in southern Europe, including Italy and Greece.

The expert’s assessment comes amid reports in American media that the US Navy has been replenishing ammunition aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington.

According to those reports, the resupply operation could be part of preparations for a possible resumption of US military action against Iran.