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 respon

2026-09-15

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.