Iran’s rope-a-dope: The war of attrition in the Persian Gulf

Investing.com -- Iran has launched hundreds of low-cost Shahed-136 drones at U.S. bases and regional oil infrastructure since Saturday, forcing American and allied forces to expend expensive interceptor missiles in what military analysts describe as a war of attrition.

The drone attacks began following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday. Iran has deployed the Shahed-136 drones, which cost approximately $20,000 each, in large numbers across the Middle East. U.S. and partner forces are using Patriot interceptor missiles costing around $4 million each to counter the drone threat.

Kelly Grieco of the Stimson Center said Iran is calculating that defenders will exhaust their interceptors and political will before Iran runs out of drones. The strategy aims to deplete air defense systems rather than achieve immediate destruction of every target.

Reports indicate Qatar’s Patriot stockpiles could last only days at the current rate of use. The air defenses of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the U.S. Fifth Fleet are absorbing the impact of hundreds of Iranian projectiles.

President Donald Trump dismissed concerns over weapons shortages on Truth Social, claiming the U.S. has a virtually unlimited supply of munitions. Trump wrote that wars can be fought forever and very successfully using just these supplies. His statement contradicts reports from military advisors who warn that high-end interceptors are under severe strain.

Analysts fear Iran is reserving its most lethal ballistic missiles for deployment after Western defenses are depleted. The conflict entered its fourth day on Tuesday with no indication of when the drone campaign will end.

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