US military faces ‘beyond critical’ shortage of Patriot missiles in Europe

NEW: US military running 'beyond critical' low on Patriot missile interceptors in Europe as the war with Iran drains stocks, US and NATO officials say, raising concerns over NATO's ability to counter a potential Russian missile attack.

The US military is beyond critical on Patriot missiles in Europe. That's the actual phrase from a defence official, beyond critical, and a NATO official confirmed it. These are the interceptors that stop Russian ballistic missiles, and you can see the system here, crews working a launcher on NATO's eastern flank.

The cause is Trump's war with Iran, which hits the six month mark on Friday. Stocks were pulled out of Europe and sent to the Middle East, where American and Gulf forces have burned through Patriots knocking down Iranian drones and missiles. Some of those attacks have killed and wounded US troops.

The official's warning is blunt. If Russia struck a NATO headquarters or a power plant, the alliance could be forced to take punch after punch in the mouth, just like Patriot starved Ukraine. CIA Director John Ratcliffe flew to Moscow this week to tell Russia not to attack. Asked about it, Trump would only say they're not going to attack.

Stockpiles are projected to recover by 2030. Officials say that's also when Russia could be ready to test them.

This is Sara White, reporting for HIT.