The first two days of US military strikes on Iran incurred a cost of approximately $5.6 billion in munitions alone, as reported by The Washington Post. This figure, based on information shared with Congress, highlights the significant financial burden of the conflict, even as President Donald Trump hints at a potential swift conclusion to the war.
US officials, cited by The Washington Post, revealed that the Pentagon expended around $5.6 billion worth of munitions during the initial attack. Lawmakers are expressing concerns over the rapid depletion of advanced weaponry stocks by American forces.
The estimated cost covers only the initial 48 hours of combat and excludes the broader expenses related to deploying troops, maintaining military assets, and supporting forces in the region. The report was presented to Congress as the administration gears up to request additional funding to sustain the military campaign.
The ongoing US military operations in Iran have seen a multitude of strikes being carried out. This heightened pace of attacks has raised worries among legislators that the US military might exhaust its supplies of high-end munitions.
Officials have cautioned that a prolonged conflict could further strain already dwindling weapon inventories due to previous commitments in Asia and supplying arms to Ukraine. To support the Middle East operations, US defence planners have started reallocating resources from other regions, such as relocating parts of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence system from South Korea to the Middle East.
Additionally, the Pentagon has utilized advanced Patriot interceptors from its stockpiles to bolster defences against Iranian drone and ballistic missile threats. However, experts warn that such strategic moves could potentially weaken American readiness in other regions, as diverting air-defence systems carries inherent risks.
The conflict has not been without casualties, with reports indicating that seven American service members have lost their lives since the commencement of the war. Among them, six were killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait, while another succumbed to injuries sustained in an attack in Saudi Arabia.
