How Costly Is the US Military Campaign in Iran?
News Desk
Washington: The United States has spent an estimated $6 billion in the first week of its ongoing military campaign against Iran, as Pentagon officials warn that additional funding will likely be required to sustain operations and replenish depleted weapons stockpiles.
According to officials from the United States Department of Defense, about $4 billion of the total expenditure has been used on shelling, airstrikes and the deployment of advanced missile interceptors during the initial phase of the conflict.
A report by The New York Times said that nearly 4,000 targets across Iran have been struck so far, including missile launchers, naval vessels and air defense systems.
US officials claim the strikes have significantly weakened Iran’s immediate response capabilities.
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Speaking during a briefing, Brad Cooper, head of United States Central Command, said Iran’s ballistic missile launches have declined by about 90 percent, while drone attacks have dropped by around 83 percent since the campaign began. However, he acknowledged that Iran still retains a substantial military capability and continues to possess a significant portion of its missile arsenal.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in Washington are preparing for a potential request from the administration for additional defense funding in the coming weeks, as the rapidly rising costs of the conflict have drawn attention from both Democratic and Republican members of Congress.
Defense analysts have also warned that the heavy use of costly interceptor missiles, some priced in the millions of dollars each, could place pressure on the US defense industry and risk creating shortages for military operations in other regions.
The conflict escalated on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran.
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Iranian authorities claim that more than 1,200 people, including senior military officials, were killed in the attacks.
In retaliation, Iran targeted US military bases in Gulf countries, diplomatic installations and military personnel stationed in the region, while also launching missile and drone strikes on several cities in Israel.
The escalating tensions have also raised concerns in global energy markets, particularly over the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route that carries around 20 million barrels of oil per day.
Disruptions to maritime traffic in the strategic waterway have already begun to affect global oil supply routes and market stability.
