The United States holds only about a quarter of the Patriot missile interceptors that the Pentagon considers necessary for worldwide operational plans, The Guardian reported, citing people familiar with internal stock-tracking data. The shortfall follows months of heavy use in the Middle East, including deployments to Israel and engagements against Houthi attacks, as well as the launch of nearly 30 Patriot interceptors to down Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at Al Udeid air base in Qatar. Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg ordered a freeze on the latest shipment of air-defence munitions to Ukraine last month while officials reviewed inventories, the report said. The recommendation originated from Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby and was later approved by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The pause affected both drawdowns from Pentagon stockpiles and contracts under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. President Donald Trump told reporters this week that he would "send some more weapons" to Kyiv but did not clarify whether Patriot systems would be included, partially reversing the earlier decision. The internal review reflects broader concern that depleted reserves could hamper U.S. contingency plans; an oversight memo now puts the long-term requirement at 13,733 Patriot interceptors, far above the Army’s 2023 projection of 3,376 and well beyond the roughly 600 missiles the United States produces each year.