From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Report: US used up 80% of its THAAD missile interceptors in Iran war
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The CNN news site reports that the US stockpile of interceptors for the THAAD missile defense system is “dangerously low.”
According to the report, the US military has used up close to 80% of its interceptors for the THAAD anti-ballistic missile defense system and approximately 50% of its Patriot interceptors.
Sources tell the news site that the low stockpiles are among the reasons advisers convinced US President Donald Trump to hold off on a planned major strike against Iran over the weekend. The White House has pushed back on the claim, saying Trump held off due to pressure from Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia.
Last week, the Center for Strategic and International Studies published a report estimating that between February and July about 65% of Patriot interceptors were expended, and that the number of THAAD ballistic missile interceptors in US stockpiles was at least 38% lower than at the start of the war. Patriots and THAADs are systems that detect and destroy incoming missiles and are among the most effective in the country’s arsenal.
The Times of Israel Community.