According to a report by Washington Post, the Pentagon spent $5.6 billion i.e. weapons worth about Rs 52 thousand crore in the first 48 hours of its military operation against Iran. This shocking figure has raised concerns among officials about the rapid depletion of “the short supply of America’s most advanced weapons”. The estimate presented to Congress on Monday has sparked new debate over the administration’s claim that the mission “is not rapidly reducing US military readiness. To maintain the ongoing campaign, the White House may request a supplemental defense budget this week, which could be several times more than $10 billion.
Armies will use these bombs
In response to Washington Post questions about the status of national stockpiles, Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell said the department has what it needs to accomplish any mission at the time and place of the president’s choosing, and on any timeline. The Washington Post reported that US and Israeli forces would use “larger stocks of laser-guided bombs” as they moved inland. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Tehran, saying that any attempt to disrupt the transit of petroleum through the Strait of Hormuz will be responded to with massive military retaliation.
US will attack more if oil stops
The President announced that if vital shipping lanes are tampered with, America’s response will be tougher than any previous conflict. The US President said in a post on Truth Social that if Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil inside the Strait of Hormuz, then America will attack them twenty times more powerful than the attacks done so far. Describing the possible scope of such an operation, Trump indicated that the US military would focus on areas that could be easily destroyed. He said that such attacks can be so dangerous that it may take a long time for Iran to recover as a country. He added, “Death, fire, and anger will overcome them—but I hope, and I pray, that it will not happen!”
Important step to save international commerce
The US President described this tough stance as a step to protect international commerce, particularly emphasizing how such stability would serve the interests of the major global economy, including Beijing. He further said that this is a gift from the United States of America to China and all the countries that heavily use the Strait of Hormuz. Hopefully, this is a gesture that will be greatly appreciated. This warning has come amid the ongoing major conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. Despite the increasing rhetoric regarding the strait, Trump said in a separate interview that the current military conflict has reached a critical juncture.