The Associated Press reported that U.S. officials are moving Patriot missile munitions out of Europe and toward the Middle East as the United States pours resources into its war on Iran. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of military operations, described the transfer as part of an effort to reinforce air defenses farther south while Russia’s continued pressure in Ukraine keeps European concerns live.
Officials said the shift reflects the Pentagon’s broader focus after the Iran war began Feb. 28, with the AP describing the conflict as entering its fourth week by the time of the officials’ comments. The war has included U.S. deployments of troops to the region and Iranian missile and drone attacks across the Gulf that have targeted U.S. bases and hotels in popular vacation areas, according to the AP report.
The report said two Patriot missile systems were moved from Germany to Turkey after several ballistic missiles were fired toward Turkey from Iran since the start of the war. Turkey’s defense ministry, along with three U.S. officials, said the Patriots were sent from Ramstein air base in Germany to Incirlik Air Base, where U.S. and NATO forces operate.
The officials said Patriot missiles were also relocated within Europe from different locations to reinforce the Middle East. One official said Patriot missile stocks are “absolutely” dwindling in Europe and elsewhere because of the war in Iran and added the situation is “pretty concerning.” Another official said there is still “plenty” of capacity in NATO to defend Europe and said part of the reason the United States has assets in different places is to project power globally.
The AP reported that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not address the specific concerns about shortages and instead said, in a statement to AP, that “The US military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and weapons stockpiles to achieve the goals of Operation Epic Fury laid out by President Trump — and beyond.”
On Turkey’s side, the Turkish defense ministry said NATO defenses intercepted three ballistic missiles fired from Iran over Turkey’s airspace. The AP reported that Turkey said another Patriot system had been positioned in Malatya province, where a NATO radar station is based, and that U.S. and NATO forces in Europe commander Gen. Alexus Grynkewich said Wednesday that some air defense capabilities in Europe were moved toward the Middle East.
The AP said U.S. European Command spokesperson Captain Reann Mommsen declined to comment on concerns about shortages and said she could not discuss movement or locations of missiles for operational security reasons. Ukraine, meanwhile, has repeatedly asked for more Patriot systems, and the AP reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned this week that Kyiv will “definitely” face shortages of Patriots because of the U.S. war against Iran.
The AP report also described the Patriot system’s role and the debate about how it is being used in different theaters. It said the Patriot is a surface-to-air guided missile system deployed since the 1980s and capable of targeting aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles. U.S. officials cited Ukraine’s experience in saying Patriot has been effective against a wide range of threats, including maneuverable hypersonic missiles such as Russia’s Kinzhal.
In the Middle East, however, officials said the system is being used against threats that do not require it—particularly comparatively cheap, low-tech Iranian Shahed drones. The officials told AP that Patriots should instead protect high-end ground systems, including precision strike missiles launched from HIMARS in the region.
As the U.S. tries to broaden defenses against drones, AP reported that shortly after the Iran war started it was told the U.S. had limited effective anti-drone defenses but planned to deploy Merops, an anti-drone system designed to take down drones by using a more cost-effective approach than missile-on-drone intercepts. Officials told AP the U.S. has a “limited” amount of operational Merops anti-drone systems in the Middle East, and that further systems are on the way while training is carried out there.
The report said the redeployment occurs even as Russia continues its war in Ukraine, with some European countries near Russia affected by incursions of Russian drones from the Baltic states to Poland and Romania. European officials have described Russia’s activity as a hybrid campaign that includes sabotage and cyberattacks, and U.S. officials told AP that moving capabilities out of Europe reduces the region’s ability to respond quickly if Moscow takes advantage of an opening.