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American defense and NATO officials have warned that US Patriot missile interceptor stocks in Europe have fallen to a 'beyond critical' level, a shortage attributed to their heavy use during the recent Iran war. Officials cautioned that the depleted stockpiles mean NATO forces would be unable to stop a sustained Russian ballistic missile attack. The warning underscores how the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran has strained broader Western military readiness, with officials suggesting European forces could be forced to 'take punch after punch' similar to Ukraine's experience if faced with a major missile barrage. The disclosure highlights a lingering strategic cost of the Iran war beyond the region itself.