The US armed forces have spent more than $47bn on waging war in Iran. Reuters reports, citing Pentagon data.
It is noted that the latest estimate covers the operational costs of conducting the war. A further more than $29bn is projected to be spent on replacing munitions used during the conflict.
Another more than $6bn will be needed to replace military equipment and compensate for so-called “platform losses”. These include lost aircraft, including numerous drones.
The information about the rising cost of the war in Iran emerged against the backdrop of Republicans grappling with the political fallout from an unpopular armed conflict ahead of the 3 November elections. They will determine which party controls the US Congress over the next two years.
The war’s impact on global energy prices has affected support for Republican Party candidates and has had a negative effect on President Donald Trump’s approval ratings. Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in both chambers of Congress.
- The United States and Israel launched Operation “Epic Fury” against Iran on 28 February. On 5 May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced its conclusion and the United States’ transition to a new phase of action in the Middle East.
- In the summer, the US president, speaking to journalists from Axios, acknowledged that he was considering delivering the largest strike on Iran, one that would surpass in scale anything carried out during Operation “Epic Fury”.