US military spending on Iran conflict reaches up to $6bn in opening days

WASHINGTON: The United States military has spent between $5.6 billion and $6 billion on operations against Iran in just the initial days of the ongoing conflict, according to multiple news reports citing figures shared with Congress.

Several US media outlets reported that Pentagon officials briefed lawmakers on Monday regarding the scale of military expenditure since the conflict began. The New York Times reported that Pentagon officials told Congress the first week of operations cost approximately $6 billion, with about $4 billion allocated specifically for munitions and missile interceptors.

CBS News stated that the $5.6 billion figure pertains to the first 48 hours of the conflict, a number also confirmed by The Washington Post for the same time period. The Hill further verified that these figures were provided to members of Congress by the Pentagon. Reuters, citing sources within the US administration, also reported $5.6 billion in munitions costs during the opening days of the conflict.

Despite the widespread reporting of these figures, the Pentagon has declined to comment publicly on the exact costs. Analysts have warned that if the current rate of spending continues, total operational costs could surpass $10 billion within ten days.

The rapid escalation in military expenditure reflects the intensity and scale of the US response in the early stages of the conflict with Iran. The majority of the spending has been attributed to the use of advanced munitions and missile defense systems.