On June 18, 2025, the Wall Street Journal reported that Israel is facing a critical shortage of Arrow missile interceptors, essential for countering Iran’s long-range ballistic missiles, according to an unnamed U.S. official. The shortage has raised alarms about Israel’s defence capabilities amid escalating conflict with Iran, prompting increased U.S. support.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. has been aware of Israel’s declining stock of Arrow interceptors for several months. The U.S. has deployed additional ballistic missile defence systems to strengthen ground, sea, and air defences. The Pentagon may also use its interceptors to support Israel.
According to Haaretz, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated, “We are prepared for any scenario,” but did not provide details about munitions. Since Iran launched its missile barrages on June 12, Israel has deployed the Arrow system designed for high-altitude missile interception extensively.
Israel is quickly running out of Arrow 3 interceptor missiles as Iran’s war of attrition erodes its air defenses.
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— AF Post (@AFpost) June 18, 2025Washington supports Israel’s defence with THAAD systems and naval destroyers stationed in the Mediterranean. Iranian attacks targeting Tel Aviv and military sites have placed significant pressure on Israel’s multilayered defence network. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan advocates for regional mediation as an alternative to further U.S. military escalation.
The threat of Iranian ballistic missiles has intensified following Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, which resulted in over 200 casualties. The Arrow interceptor crisis raises concerns about Israel’s capacity to sustain prolonged military engagements, especially since each interceptor costs $2 million. Additionally, the Israel Defence Forces’ dependency on U.S. resupply highlights challenges in their preparedness. The economic impact of the conflict is also significant, with Israel’s GDP growth slowing to 1.2% in the first quarter of 2025, adding further pressure on the situation.
The shortage of Israel’s Arrow missile system highlights weaknesses in countering the Iranian ballistic missile threat. With scrutiny on U.S. support for Israel’s defence and the readiness of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), this crisis could alter the security dynamics in the Middle East and attract global attention to the challenges surrounding the Arrow interceptor program.
