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American Interceptors for Israel: 150 THAADs in Twelve Days

Evidence rating: CONFIRMED that the United States fired more than 100 and up to 150 THAAD interceptors defending Israel (CNN, Financial Times) and asked Congress for $498 million to replace them (Pentagon reprogramming request).

For most Americans, the twelve-day war was "Israel's war" until the night of June 22. But from the first Iranian salvo, American missile-defense crews and American interceptors were shooting down missiles aimed at Israel. This page counts that cost, which was larger than the cost of the bombing itself.

What THAAD is​

THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is a US Army system that fires interceptor missiles to destroy incoming ballistic missiles high in the atmosphere. Each interceptor costs millions of dollars, and the United States makes only a few dozen a year. Patriot is a second US system, for lower-altitude defense; a Patriot PAC-3 interceptor costs "between three and five million dollars," and standard doctrine fires two at each incoming missile (@shanaka86, March 7, 2026).

How many were fired​

  • CNN reported the United States fired more than 100, and possibly as many as 150, THAAD interceptors defending Israel, roughly a quarter of the US supply (CNN, July 28, 2025).
  • The Financial Times, as summarized by Drop Site News: "the US used up to 150 THAAD interceptors." A senior US Navy official, Admiral James Kilby, described it to Congress as burning through munitions at an "alarming rate." "The Pentagon has ordered fewer than 650 THAADs since 2010 and plans to buy just 37 more in 2026" (Drop Site News, March 1, 2026).
  • One widely read analysis put it at "roughly one hundred and fifty THAAD interceptors, thirty percent of the global stockpile, in under two weeks" (@shanaka86, March 7, 2026). The same post cited Secretary of State Rubio: Iran produces over 100 missiles a month, while the United States produces six or seven interceptors a month.

The bill​

The Pentagon's reprogramming request of August 1, 2025 asked for $498 million to replace THAAD interceptors, about four times the roughly $123 million to replace the bunker-busters used on Iran (The War Zone). Defending Israel cost America more than attacking Iran. See The Bill for the Twelve Days.

What it left America without​

  • A stockpile that did not recover. By July 2026, after the second war, analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies found the Pentagon had "fired at least half its THAAD interceptors, nearly half its Patriots, and ~30% of its Tomahawks," with "no THAAD deliveries forecast for 2026" (@theinformant_x, July 20, 2026). By September 2026 the US had used "up to two-thirds of its inventory of certain missile interceptors since June 2025," and "will need five years just to replace them," with restocking estimated at $22 billion (@Blackintus, September 15, 2026).
  • Other commitments. "These are the same interceptors the US would need against China in the Pacific or to keep supplying Ukraine against Russia" (@theinformant_x). The FT reported planners debating whether to "Prioritize defending US forces over shielding Israel" (Drop Site News).
  • An ending forced by empty magazines. "Some analysts believe dwindling interceptors helped end the earlier 'Twelve-Day War' — the US and Israel were approaching critical strain" (@theinformant_x).

Why it matters​

A missile-defense interceptor fired over Israel is one that is not available to protect American troops at Al Udeid, sailors in the Gulf, or American cities. In June 2025, the United States spent a large share of a scarce stockpile on a war Israel started. When the second war came in 2026, American forces fought it with thinner defenses. See Risk to American Troops.

Status: James Kilby and Marco Rubio are alive, as far as these sources show.

Sources​

Last Updated: 2026-09-26

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