US Temporarily Halts Air Strikes on Iran Amid Ammunition Concerns

The United States has temporarily halted its air strikes on Iran, with the Islamic Republic experiencing its first night without bombardment on Sunday. The pause follows reports that concerns over dwindling ammunition supplies have put the brakes on plans for further escalation. According to reports from The New York Times and Axios, President Donald Trump decided to suspend the attacks after 13 consecutive days of strikes. The decision was reportedly made amid fears that an intensification of the war could dangerously deplete already strained stockpiles of Patriot missile interceptors and other air defence munitions in the Middle East. The move followed a meeting between Trump, his top advisers, and senior cabinet members on Friday. The reports suggest the decision reflects a willingness to allow more room for diplomacy and an acknowledgement that, without a return to major combat operations, the current level of US strikes had reached the limits of its effectiveness. Sources indicated that the US military is preparing plans for a possible return to large-scale combat operations. The pause has revived hopes for a return to negotiations after nearly two weeks of nightly American bombing, though US media also reported that the halt reflects pressure on supplies of Patriot interceptors and other defensive weapons. Fighting in the Strait of Hormuz had previously derailed diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran, with the conflict expanding beyond the vital energy corridor to include attacks on US bases, regional shipping, and Gulf allies. CNN, citing an unnamed Pentagon source, reported that US operations against Iran have been suspended. The report came as President Trump threatened strikes at a much higher level on Friday, though he later stated he had not yet decided whether to return to full-scale operations. We are talking to them now. I think they are getting more serious, Trump told reporters, adding that Iran faced a choice between a deal and attacks at a far higher level. The war, which Trump once predicted would last four or five weeks, is now approaching its fifth month and is weighing on Republican approval ratings ahead of the crucial US midterm elections in November.