US has spent $11BN on Iran war in six days

By chisom adeaze

The opening week of the war between the United States and Iran has already cost Washington more than $11.3 billion, according to figures presented to lawmakers during a classified briefing at the Pentagon.

The figures were disclosed during a closed-door session with members of United States Congress, according to a report by The New York Times, highlighting the rapid pace at which the conflict is consuming military resources and weapons.

However, officials cautioned that the $11.3 billion estimate only reflects the early operational costs and does not include many expenses associated with the massive military buildup that preceded the strikes. As a result, the total cost for the first week of fighting could rise significantly once those additional expenditures are calculated.

Rapid Consumption of Weapons

Earlier briefings to lawmakers suggested that the United States had already expended about $5.6 billion worth of munitions in the first two days of fighting alone, a rate of military spending far higher than previously anticipated.

The intense pace of combat has required large quantities of precision-guided missiles, aerial bombardment systems, drones, and air defence interceptors, contributing to the steep financial toll.

Analysts say such high-intensity conflicts involving advanced weapons systems can quickly generate enormous costs, especially when multiple air and missile strikes are carried out simultaneously across several strategic targets.

Operation “Epic Fury”

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, an independent policy research institute in Washington, the first 100 hours of the U.S. military campaign—known as Operation Epic Fury—cost approximately $3.7 billion.

That translates to an average spending rate of about $891 million per day, most of which had not been included in previously approved military budgets.

The think tank noted that around $3.5 billion of the early operational expenses were unplanned, meaning the U.S. government may need to seek additional funding approvals from Congress if the war continues at the current pace.

Daily Cost Reaches $1 Billion

Meanwhile, data compiled by the Iran War Cost Tracker suggests that the financial burden of the conflict may already be far higher than the Pentagon’s early estimates.

As of Thursday morning, the site’s real-time counter placed the total cost of the war at more than $17 billion, with spending estimated at roughly $1 billion per day.

The platform also cautions that its calculations focus primarily on direct military expenditures, meaning the true financial impact could be far greater.

Long-Term Financial Impact

Experts note that the long-term cost of war typically extends far beyond immediate battlefield expenses.

Future costs could include:

• Healthcare and benefits for wounded veterans

• Military equipment replacement and upgrades

• Reconstruction and stabilization operations

• Intelligence and security operations in the region

Historical examples show that these long-term commitments can multiply the total cost of conflicts many times over.

A Growing Economic Burden

The escalating costs come amid growing concerns in Washington about how long the United States can sustain such a high level of military spending if the conflict expands or drags on.

With tensions across the Middle East already rising and military operations intensifying, analysts warn that the financial strain could become a major factor influencing the duration and scope of the war.

For now, the figures presented to lawmakers serve as an early indication of how rapidly the conflict is consuming both military resources and taxpayer funds.

Caption (For 1960 Republic)

The first week of war between the United States and Iran has already cost Washington more than $11.3 billion, according to a briefing at the Pentagon.

Analysts say the true cost could be significantly higher as the conflict continues, with spending already estimated at around $1 billion per day.