On The 1st Wk Only The War Cost $11 Billion~Does Your Pockets Hurt Yet?
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| A closed-door briefing at the Capitol with Pentagon officials discussed the cost of the war.Kenny Holston/The New York Times |
Pentagon officials told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill on Tuesday that they estimated the cost of the war against Iran had exceeded $11.3 billion in the first six days alone, according to three people familiar with the briefing.
The estimate did not include many of the costs associated with the operation, such as the buildup of military hardware and personnel ahead of the first strikes. For that reason, lawmakers expect the number to grow considerably as the Pentagon continues to calculate the costs that accumulated just in the first week.
Still, it appeared to be the most comprehensive assessment Congress had received so far amid mounting questions about the objectives, scope and time frame for the war. The New York Timesand The Washington Post reported earlier that defense officials had said in recent congressional briefings that the military used up $5.6 billion of munitions in the first two days of the war.
That is a far larger amount and munitions burn rate than had been publicly disclosed. The Center for Strategic and International Studies had estimated that the first 100 hours of the operation cost $3.7 billion, or $891.4 million each day.
The first wave of the bombardment used weapons including the AGM-154 glide bomb, which can cost from $578,000 to $836,000. The Navy bought 3,000 of them nearly two decades ago. Since then, the U.S. military has said it will switch to using far less expensive bombs, such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition. The smallest size of warhead costs about $1,000, and the guidance kit runs about $38,000.
Some Republicans — including Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the chairman of the subcommittee that funds the Pentagon — have urged over the course of multiple administrations that the United States ramp up its spending on munitions production.
But other Republicans have balked at ramping up military funding and in recent days have questioned the idea of approving a costly supplemental funding package for a conflict they worry could become open-ended. And Democrats have cast considerable doubt on their willingness to back an emergency funding measure for the operation, at least until top administration officials offer Congress more detail about the U.S. strategy and endgame.
More on the Fighting in the Middle East
Heavy Bombing in Iran: Iranians cowered under a recent barrage, which some residents described as among the worst they had experienced since the war started, as Pete Hegseth, the U.S. defense secretary, said the U.S. aimed to wipe out Iran’s capacity to obtain nuclear weapons “forever.” Iranian detention centers, some holding people swept up in a government crackdown on protests along with other prisoners, have been damaged in the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.
Damaged U.S. Sites: Iran has responded to the U.S.-Israeli assault on the country by launching drones and missiles at American targets across the Middle East. The New York Times has identified at least 17 damaged U.S. sites and other installations, several of which have been struck more than once since the war began.
When Will the War End?: Eleven days into an expanding military campaign, President Trump and his officials have given conflicting indications on how long the United States intends the war to last. The Iranian military is adjusting its tactics, senior U.S. defense officials said, even as the Trump administration insists that the United States is winning the war.
Food Shortages: Some residents of Lebanon, Gaza and Iran are reporting shortages of food, rising food prices and other disruptions to food supplies as the conflict in the Middle East continues.
Toll on American Service Members: Eight Americans have been seriously wounded, military officials said, but the bulk of the injured have already returned to duty. Seven Americans have been killed and 140 U.S. service members have been injured overall, the Pentagon said.
Strait of Hormuz: At least three ships were hit in and around the vital oil route, according to a British maritime monitoring group, as the Middle East war chokes off one of the key conduits for the global oil trade.
Iranian Soccer Squad: Seven members of the Iranian women’s soccer delegation had initially opted to stay in Australia. The reversal by one of them was a sign of how fraught that decision was. Members of the Iranian soccer team who chose to remain in Australia are far from the first to travel to a competition and stay there.
4 Continents in 62 Hours: When conflict broke out in the Middle East, thousands of travelers were stranded. We followed a New Orleans doctor on his epic journey to get home.
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