US military faces mounting strain as Iran war stretches resources

US military operations against Iran are placing growing pressure on American forces, with damage to bases, heavy weapons use and prolonged deployments straining logistics and raising concerns about the readiness of forces for other potential conflicts.

The six-month-old war has already cost the United States about $38 billion, according to a Congressional Budget Office estimate reported on 15 September. A Pentagon inspector general report has also identified strategic inventory shortfalls and extensive damage to US military infrastructure and equipment, reports The Intercept.

The conflict has required the United States to maintain a large military presence across the Middle East while Iranian missile and drone attacks have targeted bases and other facilities in countries hosting US forces.

Officials have warned that the strain could become "ultimately unsustainable", with potential consequences for broader military readiness, according to the information provided.

Iran has pursued a "go for broke" strategy, using ballistic missiles and attack drones in an effort to impose military and economic costs on the United States ahead of November's midterm elections, according to the supplied material.

US military officials have also rejected suggestions that American forces could occupy Iranian oil fields, describing the idea as "nonsensical".

Damage to bases and logistics

Iranian attacks have damaged US facilities across the region, including Naval Support Activity Bahrain, home to the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, and the Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

A US government watchdog report released this week said Iranian strikes had damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings at American bases across the Middle East. The affected countries included Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

The Pentagon inspector general estimated war-related equipment losses at about $3.7 billion through June, including aircraft destroyed or damaged in Iranian attacks. The report said up to 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones and seven KC-135 refuelling aircraft were lost or damaged during the period it examined.

Damage to regional facilities has also complicated supply operations. The watchdog report said US Central Command had been forced to reroute some supply lines to more distant locations, including Diego Garcia, increasing the logistical burden on forces operating in the region.

The shift comes as US forces continue to rely on a network of bases and maritime facilities to support combat operations across the Middle East.

Pressure on the fleet

The Navy has also faced pressure from extended deployments and the demands of maintaining several carrier strike groups in the region.

The USS Gerald R. Ford completed an 11-month deployment in May after spending 326 days at sea and sailing more than 57,700 nautical miles. The Navy said the carrier's air wing conducted more than 12,200 aircraft launches during the deployment.

The deployment included operations in several US fleet areas, including the Red Sea, where the carrier supported Operation Epic Fury. The Ford later entered a scheduled maintenance period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, with repairs also planned for areas damaged in a March fire.

The March fire originated in the carrier's main laundry spaces and was not combat-related, according to US Naval Forces Central Command. The Navy said two sailors received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

The supplied material also describes prolonged deployments aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, including extended periods without a port call, as contributing to morale and supply problems. Those claims could not be independently confirmed from the sources reviewed.

Munitions under pressure

The war has consumed large quantities of US weapons, particularly air-defence interceptors.

The Pentagon inspector general said the United States had spent more than $22 billion on munitions during the conflict through late June, contributing to strategic inventory shortfalls. The report also identified bottlenecks in replenishing some weapons.

A separate report has highlighted declining stocks of Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, interceptors. The depletion has raised concerns about the ability of US forces to respond simultaneously to threats in the Middle East and elsewhere.

The Pentagon has disputed some claims that the United States faces critical weapons shortages, while its own inspector general has documented strategic inventory shortfalls.

The depletion of weapons has implications beyond the current conflict. The Congressional Budget Office said the war was putting pressure on US military inventories and could affect preparations for other potential contingencies, including a conflict involving China.

Casualties and wider costs

The conflict has also imposed a human cost on US forces. The supplied material cites Pentagon statistics showing 410 US troops killed or wounded since 7 July, although more recent figures in the Pentagon inspector general reporting differ and should be used when citing the official toll.

The financial burden is continuing to grow. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the war had cost $38 billion as of August and could add about $3 billion a month if the conflict continues at a similar intensity. The estimate also projected that the disruption to energy supplies could add 0.5 percentage points to inflation in early 2027.

The combination of weapons consumption, damaged infrastructure, extended deployments and higher operating costs has increased pressure on the US military to replenish stocks while continuing combat operations.

The Pentagon and White House have maintained that the United States retains substantial military capacity, while congressional and independent assessments have highlighted the longer-term consequences of replacing weapons and repairing equipment consumed or damaged during the war.