The United States’ military campaign against Iran has cost an estimated $3.7 billion in its first 100 hours, with most of the spending not previously budgeted, according to new research by the Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
The analysis, conducted by researchers Mark Cancian and Chris Park, estimated that the conflict, now in its seventh day, has cost Washington about $891.4 million per day, largely driven by the use of large volumes of munitions and the deployment of advanced systems including stealth bombers.
Heavy spending in opening phase
According to the report, US forces used more than 2,000 munitions in the first 100 hours of the war. Replenishing these weapons on a like-for-like basis would cost about $3.1 billion, with the replenishment bill rising by roughly $758.1 million per day.
The researchers said their calculations relied on estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for operating and support costs of US military units, adjusted for inflation and unit size. They also added about 10 percent extra costs to account for what they described as a “higher operational tempo”.
The US department of defense has so far released limited details about the scope of its operations in the conflict.
Majority of costs not budgeted
The report found that around $3.5 billion of the $3.7 billion spent in the first 100 hours was not previously budgeted.
This means the Pentagon may soon need to seek additional funds from Congress. According to the report, the scale of the unexpected spending could create political complications for the administration of US president Donald Trump.
“That means that the [Department of Defense] will need additional funds at some point because the level of budget cuts needed to fund this conflict internally would likely be politically and operationally difficult,” the report said.
It added that any request for additional funding could become “a focal point for opposition to the war.”
Pentagon signals expansion of campaign
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has indicated that the scale of the campaign may increase further.
He said the US bombardment of Iran is “about to surge dramatically”, involving “more fighter squadrons … more defensive capabilities” and “more bomber pulses more frequently”.
The report noted that while air campaigns often slow after the initial phase of intense operations, “nevertheless, the unbudgeted costs here will be substantial.”
It said the administration may seek a supplemental funding request from Congress, similar to the approach used by former US president George W Bush during the early phases of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Congress faces possible $50bn request
Al Jazeera reported that the scale of spending was “probably coming as a shock to members of Congress and the general public.”
According to its report, the Pentagon has prepared a $50 billion supplemental funding request to replenish Tomahawk and Patriot missiles, as well as THAAD interceptors used during the first week of the war and other equipment that has been damaged or worn out.
“The military burn rate has been rather high,” it said.
Adding that lawmakers are already concerned about the federal budget deficit and the rising interest burden on US government debt. “Another $50bn request might give some legislators pause.”
Human toll rising
Alongside the financial cost, the conflict has caused significant casualties across the region.
The Iranian Red Crescent said more than 1,332 people have been killed in Iran since US and Israeli strikes began last Saturday. According to UNICEF, at least 181 children are believed to be among the dead.
In Lebanon, the health ministry said Israeli strikes this week have killed at least 123 people.
The conflict has also claimed the lives of six US servicemen, 11 people in Israel, and nine people in Gulf Arab countries, according to figures cited in reports.
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