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US Military Using More Missiles to Defend Israel Than Israel Itself
Raises questions about the US-Israeli relationship
Weapons used on Iran were designed to protect American families

By Shireen Akram-Boshar, Truthout.org, May 22, 2026

The US is using more of its tax dollar paid arms resources to defend Israel than Israel itself uses, according to U.S. officials who spoke to The Washington Post. The officials disclosed that the U.S. military has depleted much of its missile-defense inventory after using far more of the weaponry to defend Israel throughout the war on Iran than Israel has used itself.

The U.S. has launched more than 200 THAAD missiles, approximately half of the Pentagon’s total stock, as well as over 100 Standard Missile-3 and Standard Missile-6 interceptors fired from naval vessels in the Mediterranean. Israel, on the other hand, fired fewer than 100 of its Arrow interceptors and around 90 David’s Sling interceptors — often firing these second-rate missiles when countering rockets fired by Hezbollah or the Houthis, and preserving its higher-end interceptors.

This raises questions both about the U.S.’s relationship with Israel as well as the U.S.’s use of weapons throughout the war on Iran. Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution that overthrew Iran’s US-backed Shah, Israel reportedly pressured Trump to begin the war on Iran. Netanyahu’s administration has consistently pushed for a more aggressive approach, demanding that the war resume and even suggesting the need for ground troops to invade Iran. On Tuesday, Trump and Netanyahu spoke in a “tense conversation” that highlighted their divergent views on the way forward, after Trump canceled his latest planned strikes on Iran.

Nonetheless, Trump insisted that he had the final word. But the US’s depletion of its own missiles (designed to protect American families) in defense of Israel show both its prioritization of Israel as well as its reckless use of weaponry throughout the war.

Earlier in May, concerns were raised about the U.S.’s use of weapons stockpiles throughout the war on Iran. Department of Defense reports showed that the military had depleted much of its stocks of Tomahawks, Patriots, and other munitions that could take years to replenish.

At the start of the war, Trump said that the US has “virtually unlimited” munitions that would allow it to fight wars “forever.” He claimed that stockpiles of medium and upper-grade munitions have “never been higher or better.” But the Trump administration has consistently repeated falsehoods throughout the course of its war, both about its own performance and Iran’s weaknesses.

Hegseth and Trump have both downplayed the deaths of U.S. troops at military bases struck by Iran in the region as well as the extent of the damage to these bases. And they have claimed to have “decimated” Iran’s military and missile stockpiles, while reports have found that its missile stockpile is still largely intact.