The cost of the US military campaign against Iran in the Middle East is increasing rapidly. According to reports, America is spending $1 to $2 billion every day. The rising costs have intensified political debate in Washington and questions are being raised about the burden on taxpayers.
Iran-US War: Missiles flying in the sky of the Middle East and fighter jets buzzing over the Gulf raise questions about how much Donald Trump’s war against Iran is costing America economically. As the US, along with Israel, is intensifying its military campaign against Iran, policy makers and analysts are trying to understand what the true cost of this war is.
Operation Epic Fury: Heavy US military deployment in the Middle East
By the 12th day of Operation Epic Fury, the US has made a major military deployment throughout the Middle East. America has deployed many important military resources in the ongoing campaign against Iran, which includes aircraft carrier strike groups, advanced missile defense systems, hundreds of fighter aircraft.
How many billion dollars is America spending every day?
Looking at the current pace of military operations, it is being estimated that the Pentagon is spending 1 to 2 billion dollars (i.e. 9200 to 18,400 crore rupees) every day on this war. These figures are causing concern in Washington, especially when midterm elections in America are also near. Critics say the government is spending billions of dollars on yet another costly war in the Middle East, while many inside the country struggle with health costs, home prices and inflation. However, the Trump administration says that America has enough resources to continue this military campaign.
It is not clear how long the war will last.
The US President has said that if needed, this military operation can last for several weeks. But it is not clear how long the war will continue. For this reason, it is currently difficult to make an accurate estimate of the total expenditure. Trump also claimed that America has an almost unlimited supply of weapons. He said that if needed, the war can be fought for a long time.
$630 million spent in initial deployment alone
The initial deployment was also extremely expensive, according to Ellen McCusker, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a former Pentagon budget official. He said that about $630 million (Rs 5796 crore) was spent only in deploying troops, ships and aircraft in the area. However, this expenditure is only a small part of the total war costs.
Different estimates of daily expenses in reports
Although the Pentagon has not released any official figures of war expenses, different estimates have come out in many reports.
- The US is spending about $1 billion every day, two congressional sources told MSNBC.
- Some Republican lawmakers fear the cost could reach $2 billion a day, Politico reports.
- According to an analysis by think tank CSIS, it is costing taxpayers about $891.4 million every day.
- Overall, experts estimate the potential daily cost to be between $1 and $2 billion.
Is America stuck in a ‘never ending war’?
US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has criticized the Trump administration, saying the president is pushing the US into another “never-ending war” in the Middle East. He said that the government is spending billions of dollars to bomb Iran, while ordinary Americans are not getting relief in health care, home buying and everyday expenses.
$6 billion spent in the first week itself
Although no official figures have been released yet, the Pentagon reportedly told lawmakers that nearly $6 billion (Rs 55,200 crore) had been spent in the first week of the war. Reports also suggest that the daily expenses may vary depending on the intensity of the operation.
Why is war so expensive?
According to military analysts, war expenses are increasing due to many reasons. Since the beginning of February, America has rapidly increased its military presence in the Middle East. According to reports, America has deployed more than 120 military aircraft in this area. This is considered to be the largest deployment of American air power in the region after the 2003 Iraq War.
Modern American weapons deployed in the Middle East
- F-35 stealth fighter
- F-22 Air Superiority Jet
- F-15 and F-16 fighter jets
- E-3 Sentry AWACS surveillance aircraft
Apart from this, transport aircraft and air-to-air refueling tankers have also been deployed to continue the operation. The weapons used in modern warfare are extremely expensive, causing total military expenditure to increase rapidly.
Major weapons and their prices
Approximately $2 million to $3.6 million per missile
About $35,000 per drone
- THAAD Interceptor Missile
Approximately $12.8 million per missile
About $30 million per drone
approximately $80,000 per unit
Due to these expensive weapons the total cost of war is continuously increasing.