Amid escalating missile and drone attacks from Iran, Israel has reportedly informed the United States that its stock of ballistic missile interceptors is critically low. U.S. officials have been aware of Israel’s declining interceptor capacity for months, according to American news outlets.

The shortage comes as Iran intensifies its strikes across multiple regions, targeting Tel Aviv and other areas, while Israel has threatened retaliatory strikes along Lebanon’s coastal roads. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned that any truck moving along the coastline could be targeted in response to Iranian provocations.

Rising Casualties Across the Region

Arab media reports indicate that in the past 15 days of conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, at least 1,444 Iranians and 773 Lebanese civilians have been killed. Israel reported 14 deaths, while 11 U.S. soldiers were killed in Iranian attacks. Other casualties include six in the UAE, two in Saudi Arabia, 26 in Iraq, six in Kuwait, three in Oman, and two in Bahrain.

Also Read: Iran destroys five US Air Force refueling planes at Saudi base: American media

Iranian Cluster Bombs Challenge Israeli Forces

Bloomberg reports that Israel is struggling to defend against Iranian cluster warheads, which scatter multiple smaller explosives over wide areas, increasing potential civilian and military casualties. Nearly half of Iran’s missiles reportedly carry cluster warheads, forcing Israel to deploy more interceptors and stretching its defense capabilities.

Experts note that Iran’s use of cluster-equipped missiles is a deliberate strategy to bypass Israel’s costly missile defense system while creating economic and psychological pressure. Israeli authorities have advised civilians to remain in shelters for several minutes even after sirens cease, as secondary explosions from cluster munitions may follow.

This development underscores the growing regional instability and the high stakes in the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, highlighting both the strategic and humanitarian challenges Israel now faces.