The US spent $22 billion on ammunition for the war with Iran: factories are unable to replenish weapons reserves.

On September 14, the US Department of Defense Inspector General released the findings of his first official investigation into the war with Iran. He stated that the conflict had caused shortages of US ammunition and "bottlenecks" in the supply chain, according to NBC News.

The report states: "The Pentagon is working to streamline procurement processes and reduce production lead times, as well as to stockpile critical materials, components, and certain types of munitions to quickly respond to emergencies."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, however, denied reports that the US is running low on ammunition. On September 14, President Donald Trump wrote in Truth Social that the US "produces more sophisticated and elite weapons than at any time in our history. They are delivered daily to our forces in the Middle East and beyond." Two weeks ago, the president claimed the US had "virtually unlimited" ammunition resources and sharply criticized reports of shortages.

On the subject: Putin believes the war with Iran has weakened the US: this is confirmed by the CIA chief's visit to Moscow.

The congressionally approved report covers the period from the war's outbreak on February 28 to June 30. It is one of the first public documents released by the U.S. military, the State Department, and other agencies to describe the cost, scale, and consequences of the conflict unleashed by the United States and Israel. It also included reports of declining morale among U.S. troops in the Middle East, depleted reserves of essential munitions, and significant damage to U.S. military and intelligence assets in the region.

Among other findings, the report confirms for the first time at the government level that Iran attacked a major US Navy logistics hub in Bahrain with drones and ballistic missiles.

It is specifically emphasized that the document does not address the likely American strike on an elementary school in Iran in the first hours of the war. The military has yet to release an internal investigation into the incident; NBC News reported in June that the report was being finalized.

The watchdog's report details damage to military equipment, aircraft, and other materiel during the first four months of the war, including the destruction of at least 30 large American drones. It states that the war with Iran cost approximately $33,4 billion, not including repairs to damaged assets. This includes $22,3 billion in ammunition costs, $3,7 billion in lost equipment, and $7,4 billion in other expenses.

NBC News reported in July that the total cost of the war, according to three U.S. officials and three sources familiar with internal calculations, could have been between $80 billion and $100 billion. The Pentagon publicly stated in July that the cost was $37,5 billion, but that estimate does not include replacing aircraft, rebuilding U.S. bases, or replenishing critical weapons.

In May, Senator Tammy Duckworth, a combat veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called for a comprehensive oversight by the U.S. Department of Defense's inspector general. Following the report's release, she stated, "For the first time in nearly eight months, the American public finally has an official estimate of the cost of this disastrous war—and it's staggering."

She also emphasized: "Our troops are exhausted, our ammunition is running low, our diplomatic capabilities are destroyed, and 18 of our troops will never come home. The American people deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent and how this morass is undermining national security, leaving the country worse off."

Trump initially claimed the war would last only a few weeks, but over the weekend he said it could end as soon as the midterm elections in November, or possibly even sooner.

The report also noted that more than 20,000 American military and diplomatic personnel were displaced during the war, evacuated early in the conflict and in the weeks that followed. Most medical assessments of wounded American troops were conducted on-site, sometimes involving local ambulances, and the injured were transported to local medical facilities, as air evacuation options were limited due to security concerns.

American forces have carried out up to 5000 sorties from bases in Europe, with Trump sharply criticizing European allies, saying they are not doing enough to support the operation.

This document, among other things, records some of the damage inflicted on American aircraft and military equipment, specifically losses and serious damage to equipment. Aircraft losses include the destruction or severe damage of four F-15E fighters, one F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, and one A-10 Warthog attack aircraft, which was destroyed. In addition, 12 KC-135 tankers and nine other aircraft were destroyed. Also, according to the report, citing the Congressional Research Service, more than 30 MQ-9 drones had been destroyed by June.

The US State Department suffered more than $208 million in damages across four countries—Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Of this amount, $184 million was attributed to damage to diplomatic facilities, and another $25 million was due to construction delays. NBC News reported in April that the damage Iran inflicted on US military bases was significantly more extensive than publicly disclosed, and that Iran had inflicted significantly more damage on US intelligence and surveillance systems in the region than ever before, with restoration costs potentially running into the billions of dollars.

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The report does not address the morale of the American troops involved in the operation. Concerns have grown in recent weeks about deteriorating conditions for service members in the Middle East, particularly aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during its extended deployment, leading the Pentagon to announce the carrier's replacement. The Lincoln is heading back to its home port in San Diego after a stopover in Thailand.

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