Military advisers reportedly warned that expanded operations could dangerously deplete US Patriot interceptor stocks
US President Donald Trump has held off on a major attack on Iran over concerns that the Pentagon is running low on air-defense missiles, the New York Times reports, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The two sides have exchanged strikes for nearly two weeks since a fragile ceasefire reached in spring collapsed, accusing each other of violating a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed on June 17.
On Thursday, Trump threatened Iran and the Houthis with “major military punishment” after the Yemen-based group struck two Saudi oil tankers, telling Axios he was considering a “massive attack” against Iran that would be “bigger than ever before.”
According to the article published on Saturday, the decision followed a meeting with senior advisers and cabinet officials a day earlier that reportedly focused on the Pentagon’s shrinking inventory of Patriot interceptors and other air defenses. Two people briefed on the discussion told the outlet that officials also feared a wider regional war, alienating Gulf allies vulnerable to Iranian retaliation, a global economic downturn, and growing energy and refugee crises.
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