WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has strongly rejected assertions made by Democratic Senator Mark Kelly regarding the state of American military munitions, amid continuing debate in Washington over the impact of the recent conflict involving Iran on US defence preparedness.
The dispute emerged after Kelly reportedly claimed that US weapons reserves had been significantly strained and “depleted” during military operations linked to the war on Iran, raising concerns about the readiness of the American armed forces and the long-term sustainability of US military stockpiles.
Responding sharply to the remarks, Hegseth criticised the senator in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, dismissing the allegations as inaccurate and misleading.
“Captain” Mark Kelly strikes again.
Now he’s blabbing on TV (falsely & dumbly) about a *CLASSIFIED* Pentagon briefing he received.
Did he violate his oath…again? @DeptofWar legal counsel will review. https://t.co/mPBZHxZqpr
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) May 10, 2026
“‘Captain’ Mark Kelly strikes again,” Hegseth wrote. “Now he’s blabbing on TV — falsely and dumbly — about a classified Pentagon briefing he received.”
The defence secretary further suggested that Kelly had mischaracterised sensitive information discussed during closed-door briefings involving senior Pentagon officials and lawmakers. Hegseth did not provide additional details regarding the classified assessment but insisted that claims about depleted munitions stocks were incorrect.
Kelly, a former Navy captain and astronaut who now serves in the US Senate, has been among lawmakers scrutinising the Pentagon’s military commitments overseas and the pressure such engagements place on American defence resources.
His comments added to wider concerns in Congress over whether prolonged regional tensions and repeated military deployments could affect the United States’ operational readiness.
The exchange highlights growing political divisions in Washington over defence policy, military spending and the broader consequences of the recent confrontation with Iran.
Several analysts and lawmakers have previously raised questions about the pace at which advanced weapons systems and precision-guided munitions are being consumed during modern conflicts.
However, Pentagon officials have repeatedly maintained that the United States retains sufficient military capability and continues to monitor weapons inventories closely to ensure strategic readiness across multiple theatres.
The public disagreement between Hegseth and Kelly is likely to intensify debate in Congress over defence oversight and transparency, particularly concerning classified military assessments linked to ongoing regional tensions in the Middle East.
