In the Latest News coming from Washington, reports suggest that the United States could face serious challenges if the war with Iran continues for many more days. According to media reports, including coverage by Al Jazeera, former US President Donald Trump has been informed by the Pentagon that an extended conflict may create risks such as high costs and falling missile supplies.
This Breaking News comes as the fighting between the United States, Israel, and Iran enters its fourth straight day. Military experts say that if US strikes continue for another 10 days or more, stocks of some critical missiles could run dangerously low.
Here are the Daily news highlights and a clear look at what is happening.
1. How the Conflict Started
The current crisis began after tensions rose over nuclear talks with Iran. On Friday afternoon, Donald Trump told reporters that he was unhappy with how the nuclear discussions were going. Just a few hours later, he ordered a major military operation against Iran.
The strikes reportedly killed several top Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military officials. Soon after that, Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward US military bases in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq.
This quick escalation turned the situation into a serious military standoff in the Middle East. Many global leaders are now worried that the conflict could spread further.
2. Pentagon Warns About Missile Supplies
According to reports, Pentagon officials have warned that if the war continues for 10 more days, the United States could start running low on key missile systems.
Some of the weapons that may be affected include:
- Interceptor missiles used to stop enemy rockets.
- THAAD interceptors, which are part of advanced missile defense systems.
- Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), which turn normal bombs into smart, GPS-guided weapons.
- Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors launched from ships.
Military analysts explained that these systems were mainly designed to handle short and intense attacks from powerful countries like Russia or China. They were not built for long, continuous missile exchanges like the current situation with Iran.
Reports say that during last year’s conflict with Iran, the US used around 25% of its THAAD interceptor stock. Around 150 interceptors were fired in that war alone. There were also reports that ship-based interceptors were nearly exhausted.
This is why experts fear that another long battle could weaken America’s defensive capacity.
3. Trump’s Statement on Weapon Supplies
Despite these warnings, Trump has shown confidence in US military strength. In a post on Truth Social, he said that US munitions stockpiles have never been stronger.
He claimed that the United States has a “virtually unlimited supply” of weapons and said wars could be fought “forever” using current supplies.
However, experts disagree with that statement. Defense analysts argue that manufacturing advanced missiles is slow and expensive. For example, Iran is believed to produce over 100 missiles per month, while the US and its allies may only produce six or seven interceptors per month in comparison.
This gap between production rates is a major concern.
4. The High Cost of War
Another serious issue is the financial cost of the conflict.
Reports say that in just the first 24 hours of strikes on Iran, the United States spent about $779 million. Operating aircraft carrier strike groups also adds to the cost. A single carrier group, such as the USS Gerald R. Ford, costs around $6.5 million per day to operate.
Before launching strikes, the US deployed two carrier strike groups to the Middle East. The total cost of preparing for the operation, including moving aircraft and ships, is estimated at around $630 million.
If the war continues for weeks, experts warn that total spending could reach as high as $210 billion. That would be a huge burden on the US economy.
5. Ongoing Military Aid and Global Impact
Since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, the United States has already provided billions of dollars in military support to Israel. Reports suggest that military aid and regional operations have cost between $31 billion and $33 billion.
With the new conflict against Iran, these costs are rising quickly.
The situation also affects:
- Global oil prices.
- Stock markets.
- Air travel in the Gulf region.
- International trade routes.
Investors are closely watching this Breaking News because any long-term conflict in the Middle East can impact the global economy.
What Happens Next?
Trump earlier said that military operations against Iran could last four to five weeks. However, he also mentioned that they might continue even longer if needed.
If that happens, the United States may face two main challenges:
- Rebuilding missile stocks at high cost.
- Managing long-term financial pressure.
Defense experts say the US military is powerful, but even the strongest forces must carefully manage supplies during prolonged wars.
