US deploys 1,500 Patriot missiles against Iran, 50,000 troops on alert

The United States has used between 1,503 and 1,571 Patriot surface‑to‑air missiles and 174 to 218 THAAD interceptors since late February in its response to a clash with Iran, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The stockpiles of these systems have fallen sharply, with Patriot missiles decreasing from about 2,330 to roughly 760‑830 and THAAD missiles from 452 to around 235‑280.

Centcom confirmed that US forces carried out a large‑scale air strike on July 30, targeting dozens of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites, including command centers, missile facilities, UAVs, coastal defenses and naval assets, after Iran launched a series of ballistic missiles toward US‑linked positions in the region. More than 50,000 US service members are currently deployed across the Middle East and remain on heightened readiness. President Donald Trump warned of a “very strong” retaliation, while Iran reported minor injuries but no fatalities from the strikes. Earlier, Ukrainian officials had appealed for additional US Patriot missiles amid the same depletion concerns.