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National Security

Why the U.S. military is letting some Iranian projectiles through its defenses

American military commanders are choosing not to intercept some Iranian projectiles that are off course or not expected to hit U.S. forces amid a diminishing munition supply.
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Iran-Music Ceremony On Ruins Of Destroyed Synagogue
A man places an Iranian national flag on the ruins of a synagogue in Tehran, Iran, on May 14. Morteza Nikoubazl / NurPhoto via Getty Images file

WASHINGTON — U.S. military commanders have been picking and choosing which Iranian missiles and explosive-packed drones to intercept and are allowing some attacks through their defenses, amid an effort to preserve the Pentagon’s diminishing supply of weapons that block projectiles from reaching their targets, two senior U.S. officials told NBC News.