President Donald Trump has ordered the United States military to pause its aerial campaign against Iran following 13 consecutive days of strikes, according to reports from The New York Times and Axios published on Saturday. The decision, reached after a Friday meeting with senior advisers and cabinet members, stems partly from concerns that continued operations could critically deplete the Pentagon's inventory of Patriot antimissile interceptors and other air defence munitions stationed in the Middle East.
Concerns Over Munition Stockpiles Drive Decision
The New York Times, citing Trump administration officials, reported that the president's directive was influenced by growing anxiety within the Pentagon that prolonged strikes were straining resources that would be difficult to replenish quickly. The Patriot antimissile system remains one of the most vital components of American and allied air defence architecture in the region, and its potential depletion raised alarms among military planners. The exact number of interceptors remaining was not disclosed, but officials indicated that the current pace of operations was unsustainable without risking gaps in coverage.
Temporary Halt or Longer Break?
Axios, citing two anonymous sources familiar with the decision, noted that it remains unclear whether the pause is temporary or signals a longer-term break in military action. The sources indicated that Trump's move reflects his readiness to create additional room for diplomatic efforts, alongside a recognition that the current scale of strikes had reached the limits of what could be achieved without escalating to full-scale combat. The US military, according to those sources, is already developing contingency plans for a possible return to major combat operations against Iran.
Neither The New York Times nor Axios reported any direct communication with Iranian officials or a specific diplomatic framework tied to the pause.
Kuwait Denies Participation in Attacks
Separately, Kuwait's ambassador to the United States, Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah, denied a Wall Street Journal report that claimed the Gulf state had sent fighter jets to attack Iran. In a letter to the newspaper's editorial board, the ambassador called the report “utterly and completely baseless,” according to the official Kuwait News Agency. “She affirmed that Kuwait has not participated in any military operations against Iran and has not allowed the use of its territory, airspace, or territorial waters to launch offensive operations,” the agency reported.
The Wall Street Journal had stated on Friday that Kuwait and Bahrain sent fighters to strike sites inside Iran after Tehran launched missile and drone attacks on what it called US military assets in Gulf countries. Iran said those attacks were in retaliation for US strikes on its cities.
Thirteenth Night of Strikes
Legit.ng earlier reported that the US military carried out strikes on Iran for the thirteenth consecutive night, with Iranian state media reporting four deaths and five injuries from the latest round. Explosions were heard at key military and commercial locations in southern Iran, including the port city of Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island. The pause ordered by Trump comes after this sustained campaign, which had drawn increasing international attention and raised concerns about regional escalation.
