Pentagon Urges Defense Contractors to Ramp Up Weapons Production Amid Low Stockpiles

The Defense Department sent a memo urging US military contractors to increase production of munitions, citing concerns that American weapons stockpiles are running low after more than five months of sustained operations against Iran. The memo followed Trump's Aug 6 assertion that the US has 'massive amounts' of munitions despite the reported shortfalls, and coincided with reports that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve has fallen below 300 million barrels, its lowest level since 1983.