US Patriot and THAAD Missiles Intercept Iranian Attack in Jordan

The United States launched between 60 and 70 Patriot interceptors and over a dozen THAAD interceptors last week to counter an Iranian assault involving approximately 20 ballistic missiles targeting American forces in Jordan, according to a Wednesday report by The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. and regional officials.

Despite the extensive defensive measures, not all threats were neutralized. Iran managed to damage fighter jets and other aircraft at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. Fortunately, no American soldiers were killed in the attack. Officials indicated that Iran employed warheads designed to split into multiple submunitions before reaching their target, complicating the defense.

One official described the number of interceptors used in this single attack as comparable to the amount the U.S. expends over an entire week during other periods of conflict. The Journal reported that by mid-July, the U.S. had already fired around 1,700 Patriot missiles, over 200 THAAD missiles, and approximately 150 Standard Missiles from naval vessels during the ongoing war.

This report follows a new Pentagon Inspector General's report that identified "strategic shortages in stocks" due to the war and exposed bottlenecks in the U.S. industrial capacity to replenish ammunition. However, the Pentagon has refuted claims of dwindling U.S. ammunition supplies. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Farrell told the Journal that such reports are "completely false," and CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper stated this week that he is not concerned about interceptor shortages.