Iran's relentless drone, missile attacks strain US, allies' air defenses

• Iran's sustained drone and missile attacks challenge the US and its allies, including Israel and Gulf states, raising concerns about depleting air defense interceptor stockpiles.
• Key defense systems like THAAD, Patriot, and SM missiles are under severe strain due to supplies sent to Ukraine, use in the Red Sea, and deployment in the Indo-Pacific.
• US inventories of these munitions are dangerously low, with a 12-day war in June 2025 consuming a quarter of the entire US inventory of THAAD interceptors.
• Gulf states are particularly vulnerable to Iran's long-range missiles and easily launched Shahed drones, relying heavily on expensive interceptors for all threats.
• The situation could force the US to draw down missile defense stocks from other regions like South Korea, potentially degrading global military readiness and encouraging aggression.