[Opinion. The US and Israel both claim they are running short on munitions. They must be having a d’oh moment. Oopsie, it’s not just the oil!]

US-Israel war on Iran

West Point analysis warns that strait of Hormuz blockade will strangle defense industry

Report shows how minerals critical to defense readiness have seen a ‘near total’ disruption in seaborne trade

Jason Wilson

The Guardian:19 Mar 2026

The closure of the strait of Hormuz is causing a “paralyzing, real-time problem” for any prospective manufacturing surge in the US defense industrial base, and even for the repair of defense equipment damaged by Iranian attacks, according to analysis published by West Point’s Modern War Institute.

In particular sulphur, a vital upstream input in the extraction of critical minerals including copper and cobalt, has seen a “near total” disruption of seaborne trade in the straits, which makes up half the world’s total shipments, and prices have spiked nearly 25% since the war began, and seen a 165% rise year on year, the report said.

According to the analysis, these minerals – used in everything from microprocessors to jet engines to drone batteries – “dictate how fast things can be built and scaled under the pressure of an ongoing war”, and the effects of a sudden supply shock on US defense readiness have never been modeled.

27 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

The US and Israel both claim they are running short on munitions.

Source?

The strait will be open shortly

38 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Source?

The strait will be open shortly

The Times of Israel / Foreign Policy Research Institute:

Recent reports from early 2026 indicate that both the United States and Israel are facing significant strain on their munitions stockpiles, particularly regarding high-end air defense interceptors, amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

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8 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

The Times of Israel / Foreign Policy Research Institute:

Recent reports from early 2026 indicate that both the United States and Israel are facing significant strain on their munitions stockpiles, particularly regarding high-end air defense interceptors, amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.

.

Thats not a source LOL. Show where a named government official has ever said that.