Pentagon officials told the DoD inspector general that U.S. strikes on Iranian
targets in the initial months of Operation "Epic Fury" burned so much ammunition
they caused strategic stockpile shortfalls and exposed industrial-base
bottlenecks. An IG report released Monday covering operations through June 30
says procurement officials are working to simplify acquisition, shorten
production and delivery cycles, and preposition key materials, components and
selected munitions to enable rapid response. The department estimates roughly
$22.3 bln of munitions were consumed and total costs exceeded $33 bln through
late June. The report marks official confirmation of issues the Trump
administration had repeatedly downplayed.