CNN reported that officials in the Donald Trump administration told lawmakers during a closed-door meeting last Tuesday that Iran’s Shahed drones are a serious challenge, with U.S. air defense systems unable to intercept them all.
Sources citing two officials said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Don Cain, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff committee, acknowledged that these drones are a bigger problem than expected.
They noted that the drones fly at low altitudes and slow speeds, making them harder to detect and intercept than ballistic missiles.
CNN added that another informed source said officials tried to downplay concerns about the drones to journalists, noting that Gulf regional partners have expanded their missile defense stockpiles.
At the private meeting, Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly warned that the U.S. has limited resources, while Iran can produce large numbers of Shahed drones and missiles and maintains significant stockpiles.
He said the situation has become a serious problem for the United States in terms of replenishing and producing munitions.