The United States has spent more than $11 billion in just six days of its military campaign against Iran, according to a Pentagon briefing cited by The New York Times, highlighting the rapid financial toll of the conflict.
Lawmakers were told during a closed-door session on Tuesday that the $11.3 billion figure does not include costs tied to the buildup before the strikes, suggesting that the total expenditure for the first week could be substantially higher.
Defence officials revealed that around $5.6 billion worth of munitions were expended within the first two days alone, a burn rate far exceeding earlier public estimates.
Independent analysts have also flagged the steep costs. The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated that the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury cost about $3.7 billion, averaging $891 million per day, with $3.5 billion of that unbudgeted.
Real-time estimates from the Iran War Cost Tracker website showed US spending had surpassed $17 billion by Thursday morning, with an average daily expenditure of $1 billion. The tracker notes that long-term costs such as veterans’ healthcare, equipment replacement, and post-war obligations are not included, meaning the actual cost is likely far higher.
The figures underscore the extraordinary pace at which the war is consuming US resources and the potential economic strain if the conflict continues.
Officials in Washington are now weighing the implications of sustained high-cost military operations, with lawmakers increasingly scrutinising the financial and strategic impact of the campaign.
Leave a Reply