US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth rebuked a reporter in Wisconsin for asking whether the Army’s long-range missile stocks had been largely exhausted during the Iran war, saying such information was operationally sensitive. The exchange matters because reports of depleted US munitions have raised concerns about Washington’s ability to deter or respond to a potential conflict in the Pacific, particularly with China.

The Washington Post reportedly said up to three-quarters of about 90 Precision Strike Missiles had been used, alongside more than 1,000 Tomahawk missiles and roughly a quarter of pre-war JASSM stocks. Analysts cited greater concern over Patriot and THAAD defensive interceptors, with an estimated 1,000 remaining to protect US bases and troops in Asia against China’s large ballistic-missile force; Hegseth disputed the concern, saying the US had sufficient supplies now and for future needs.