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Issued on: 15/09/2026 - 08:07   (Reading time) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-clock)    1 min Reading time   Share (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-share)      By:  (https://www.france24.com/en/author/france-24/) (FRANCE 24) FRANCE 24       (This handout picture released by the US Navy on September 13, 2026, shows a sailor after checking ordnance on an F/A-18 Super Hornet on the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS George Washington.)  An F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet is pictured on aircraft carrier USS George Washington in this US Navy handout photo released on September 13, 2026.        © US Navy via AFP    The (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/usa/) US Defense Department's inspector general revealed Monday that the United States is facing a (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260915-middle-east-live-houthi-attacks-wound-13-civilians-in-southern-saudi-arabia) shortfall in ammunition as a result of its costly (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/iran-war/) war in Iran . In a first-of-its-kind mandatory report to Congress, the inspector said that between February 28 and June 30, Operation Epic Fury (OEF) had an estimated cost of $33.4 billion, with $22.3 billion of that spent on expended munitions alone.  The report noted "the munitions expenditure on OEF has resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply". It also lists losses to the American fleet, including four F-15s destroyed, one F-35 damaged, seven KC-135 tanker aircraft damaged and up to 30 MQ-9 Reaper (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/drones/) drones destroyed.  President (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/donald-trump/) Donald Trump has repeatedly brushed off concerns of depleted weapons stores during the six months of war in the (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/middle-east/) Middle East , saying the US has "virtually unlimited" ammo just a couple weeks ago. On Monday Trump posted to his Truth Social platform saying again the US is producing "more Exquisite and Elite Weapons than at any time in our History". CNN previously reported that shortages of long-range guided missiles and air-defence interceptors had affected Trump's strategy in the conflict with (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/iran/) Iran , with the (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/us-military/) US military having "nearly exhausted 80%" of its stock of THAAD interceptors. Read more (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260827-us-military-faces-beyond-critical-shortage-of-patriot-missiles-in-europe) US military faces ‘beyond critical’ shortage of Patriot missiles in Europe  During the first 24 hours of war against Iran, the United States struck more than 1,000 targets, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said, and has not returned to such large scale attacks in recent months. The report notes that "Iranian strikes damaged and destroyed hundreds of buildings and structures at US bases in (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/kuwait/) Kuwait , (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/bahrain/) Bahrain , (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/qatar/) Qatar , (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/united-arab-emirates/) UAE , (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/saudi-arabia/) Saudi Arabia , (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/iraq/) Iraq , (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/oman/) Oman , and (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/jordan/) Jordan during the conflict", but does not include those costs in the cost estimates, saying it's not yet clear if all the bases will be built, or who will foot the bill.  (FRANCE 24 with AFP)     Read next   (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260827-us-military-faces-beyond-critical-shortage-of-patriot-missiles-in-europe) (Patriot missile launchers acquired from the U.S. last year are seen deployed in Warsaw, Poland.)   (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260827-us-military-faces-beyond-critical-shortage-of-patriot-missiles-in-europe) (US military faces ‘beyond critical’ shortage of Patriot missiles in Europe) US military faces ‘beyond critical’ shortage of Patriot missiles in Europe    Americas    (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260814-trump-says-record-navy-deployment-in-iran-operations-not-nearly-long-enough) (This handout picture released by the US Navy on May 8, 2019 shows the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) while conducting a replenishment-at-sea)   (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260814-trump-says-record-navy-deployment-in-iran-operations-not-nearly-long-enough) (Trump says record Navy deployment in Iran operations 'not nearly long enough') Trump says record Navy deployment in Iran operations 'not nearly long enough'    Middle East          Today's top stories   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from Ed Sheeran US tour after pro-Palestinian remarks   Americas     (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260914-us-space-force-confirms-weapons-deployed-in-space-for-first-time) (US Space Force confirms weapons deployed in space for first time) US Space Force confirms weapons deployed in space for first time   Americas        Advertising (Report this ad) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-report-ad)           Most read   1 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260913-france-apologises-for-diplomatic-spat-with-us-to-lift-block-on-new-ambassador-to-washington) France apologises for diplomatic spat with US to lift block on new ambassador to Washington    France       2 (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260913-macron-carney-to-visit-french-islands-after-trump-s-map-post) Macron, Carney to visit North Atlantic French islands after Trump's map post    Americas       3 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