A new analysis by the Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates that the United States spent about $3.7 billion during the first 100 hours of its military operations against Iran. The estimate highlights how expensive the early phase of the conflict has been.
According to the report, the cost equals roughly $891 million per day. Researchers explained that the opening stage of an air campaign is usually the most expensive because the military relies heavily on advanced weapons, missiles and other high-cost systems.
The analysts also said that most of the money spent so far was not included in the Pentagon’s existing budget. As a result, the US Department of Defense may soon need to request additional funding from Congress to continue operations if the conflict continues.
The study estimates that the US has already used more than 2,000 munitions during the first 100 hours of fighting, and replacing these weapons alone could cost more than $3.1 billion. If the war continues for weeks, the total financial burden could increase significantly.
Officials in Washington have indicated that the campaign against Iran could last several weeks, raising concerns about the long-term financial and political cost of the conflict.