Amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and with no formal agreement reached, former Israeli Air Force Commander Ben Eliyahu says that U.S. military leverage against Iran is nearly gone. The Jerusalem Post reports that the U.S. is experiencing a shortage of interceptor missiles, with stockpiles depleted by an estimated 50% to 80% over the past four months—a concern that other Israeli news sources have also reported.
“For now, there is still no agreement,” he (Eliyahu) said. “There is more or less an understanding that Iran will control entry into the strait, but regarding the exit from the Gulf, it is still unclear whether it will have control or not.”
“The second issue is that Iran is demanding a certain commission, while Oman is demanding less,” he added. “One side is demanding around 7%, while the other is asking for only 3%, and the United States is demanding that there be no payment at all. We often hear inaccurate reports, not to mention outright fake news, and that is true this time as well.”
Ben Eliyahu then addressed the possibility that Tehran was misleading Trump.
The shortage of interceptor missiles is also critical to regional defense. Eliyahu said the 80% figure is not definitive, with some reports estimating depletion at 60% to 70%. These types of missiles are necessary for defense because Iran possesses missiles that can split into smaller projectiles. Historians have also warned that depleted U.S. stockpiles could leave the country vulnerable if another major power were to enter the conflict.
Despite these concerns, Trump was reportedly unaware of the state of U.S. munitions and met with Hegseth during a meeting last week at Camp David. However, the president maintains that the U.S. has all the munitions it needs, with more on the way. Trump also continues to insist that a deal with Iran could be reached as soon as next week.
Israel is heading into the weekend on alert for potential terror activity in southern Lebanon and Gaza, as the IDF remains stationed in the region while talks continue. The U.S. has praised talks between Israel and Lebanon in Rome this week, while Jerusalem weighs options for responding to terror activity in Gaza.
The Fellowship and our supporters pray for the protection of the U.S. and Israel during these times of uncertainty, and in the face of further conflict.