According to the official, who spoke to The Washington Post on condition of anonymity, current inventories would not allow Washington to safely sustain another major operation.
“We do not have enough to safely sustain operations, and I don’t think the White House is aware of that,” the official said.
The warning was made as US forces carried out attacks for a ninth straight night. The strikes were presented as a response to Iranian assaults that killed American personnel last week.
Rising casualties push Washington toward escalation
The latest US bombardment over the weekend was described by the administration as retaliation for the deaths of three US soldiers, with a possible fourth. On Monday, two of those killed were named as 1st Lt Tyler James Feehan, 25, and Pte Isabella Gonzales, 19.
Centcom said human remains had been recovered at the base in Jordan where the attack occurred. Verification of the third soldier was still ongoing. President Trump later told reporters the number was “probably” three.
Another service member died on Saturday in northern Iraq during what Centcom called a “controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance” from a downed Iranian drone. Dozens more troops were reported injured in separate Iranian strikes on US positions in Jordan.
Trump called the losses “a shame” but said the troops were in the region “because they don’t want to see Iran have a nuclear weapon.” He also told reporters on his return from the World Cup that the US had “hit them very hard again” in honor of the fallen.
“Iran has been very, very badly damaged. They’ve lost everything almost militarily. They’ve got very little left,” he said.
Iran hits back across the Gulf
Tehran responded with its own wave of attacks. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced strikes on targets in Bahrain, Jordan and Syria. Bahrain reported that Iranian forces targeted its air navigation systems.
Kuwait said it was hit by missiles and drones that struck a power station and a water desalination plant. Authorities described it as an attack on civilian infrastructure. Air raid sirens sounded in Kuwait on Monday morning. In Bahrain, the US embassy warned Americans to “remain vigilant” after receiving information that Iran might target locations in Manama.
Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, said the country was once again in a “full-scale war” with the United States and that Washington should be prepared for the consequences.
The IRGC also reported two oil tankers had “exploded and were forced to cease movement” after attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. UK Maritime Trade Operations said a vessel was on fire near Kumzar, north of Oman, after being struck by an “unknown projectile.” The crew abandoned ship safely. The IRGC did not claim direct responsibility but warned that “not a single drop of oil and gas” would move safely while US “aggression” continued.
In Syria, the IRGC claimed a “surprise attack” on a command center in the Al-Tanf region.
Iranian state media also reported explosions early Monday in Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini on the Persian Gulf, in Tabriz in the northwest, and in Chabahar and Konarak on the Gulf of Oman.
Tehran further alleged that the US had struck an under-construction nuclear plant in Darkhovin, southwest Iran. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it was reviewing the reports. IAEA Director Rafael Grossi stated the incident was “not believed to pose any radiological risk” and repeated calls for restraint around nuclear sites.
Military buildup continues despite munitions concerns
Despite the warnings about missile stocks, the Pentagon moved more assets into the region. The New York Times reported that F-16 jets were being deployed from Germany and F-35s from Britain. Aerial refueling aircraft were also en route.
Centcom said the mission was aimed at “diminishing Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz.” The late-night strikes lasted more than three hours.
Officials said some of the additional equipment had been ordered before the Jordan base attack. Trump has signaled interest in expanding targets to include infrastructure such as bridges and power plants. Analysts, however, noted that beyond munitions shortages, the US is not positioned for ground operations inside Iran. Trump declined last week to rule that option out.
Diplomacy runs in parallel
Even as fighting intensified, both sides indicated backchannel talks were continuing.
On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said mediators had delivered proposals to Tehran. “Despite more than a week of attacks, diplomacy also knows its duties well and spares no efforts,” he said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday night that Washington remained open to negotiations. “We’ve tried multiple times with Iran, and we’ll continue to try. If that door opens, we’ll be happy to see it open,” he said.
Domestic pressure grows on Trump
The conflict is also weighing on politics at home. Polling shows Trump’s approval rating holding at 37 percent. Many Americans expressed frustration over the handling of the war and doubt that fuel prices will stabilize soon.
The New York Times, citing US officials, reported that the Pentagon had not publicly disclosed the full extent of troop injuries or damage from Iranian strikes, despite requirements to inform the public about wartime developments.
Strait of Hormuz becomes flashpoint
The focus on shipping highlights the economic stakes. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC’s warning about halting oil and gas transit, combined with the tanker fire near Oman, has raised concerns about energy markets and global trade.
US planners are reportedly discussing how to prepare if the conflict escalates further. But with munitions reserves described as depleted, military options may be more constrained than public statements suggest.
The coming days will likely test whether diplomatic efforts can gain traction before missile stocks and regional tensions force harder choices on both Washington and Tehran.
