U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth denied a report from CNN stating that the army's ammunition stocks had dropped to "dangerously low" levels during the Iran war, affirming via the platform "X" that the report is "incorrect."

Hegseth focused in his post on a news ticker broadcast by the network, which stated: "Sources: The United States has used about 80% of its main interceptor missiles in the war with Iran, and senior leaders warn that stocks have reached dangerously low levels." He wrote: "This news ticker is incorrect," adding: "Shame on you. We don't hate fake news media enough."

CNN reported that several informed sources said the United States is nearing the depletion of about 80% of the interceptor missiles from the "THAAD" missile defense system, while senior U.S. military leaders warn that the Pentagon's ammunition stock has reached a "dangerously low" level.

According to two sources familiar with the latest report on the stocks, the U.S. military has consumed nearly four-fifths of its "THAAD" missile inventory compared to pre-war levels, along with about half of the interceptor missiles from the "Patriot" system since the outbreak of the conflict.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that before the outbreak of the war with Iran, the United States had about 2,200 interceptor missiles from the latest two upgraded versions of the "Patriot" system, in addition to 452 missiles from the "THAAD" system.

The issue of stocks was raised again before the U.S. president's decision last weekend to cancel new strikes against Iran, marking at least the second time in recent weeks that senior military advisors to Trump have explicitly expressed concern over the depletion of essential U.S. munitions during discussions about the potential escalation of confrontation with Iran.

Three informed sources confirmed to Reuters that the U.S. military used most of its stock of long-range precision-guided missiles during its war with Iran.

According to a senior official in the Trump administration, the president intended to proceed with large-scale strikes (on Friday), and Hegseth received the final order to approve them on the same day. However, Trump reversed his decision after discussions held (on Saturday).

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's chief spokesperson, confirmed in a statement to CNN that the U.S. military is the strongest in the world and has everything it needs to conduct operations at the time and place determined by the president.

He added: "We have successfully conducted several operations across combatant commands, ensuring that the U.S. military retains a large arsenal of capabilities necessary to protect our people and our interests."

For her part, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told CNN that the U.S. military possesses more than enough ammunition, equipment, and stocks to achieve all of President Trump's strategic objectives and beyond.