Pentagon tells lawmakers Iran war costs top $11.3bn but true price unknown

"Pentagon officials told top lawmakers in a closed-door briefing on Tuesday that the cost of the war against Iran has already exceeded $11.3bn in its first six days, but the true cost of the opening days of the conflict is likely far greater, according to two people familiar with the matter."

"The estimate, presented during a classified briefing on Capitol Hill, appeared largely limited to munitions expenditures and does not capture the full cost of the opening days of the conflict, one person familiar with the matter told the Guardian. Additional costs to consider include the deployment of forces to the region, medical expenses and the replacement of military aircraft lost in war."

"The initial strikes relied on sophisticated and expensive precision-guided weapons, including the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon, a glide bomb that can cost between $578,000 and $836,000 per unit. The US navy purchased roughly 3,000 of the munitions nearly two decades ago."

Pentagon officials briefed top lawmakers that military operations against Iran cost $11.3 billion in the first six days, though this figure primarily reflects munitions expenditures. The actual total cost is substantially higher when accounting for force deployment, medical expenses, and replacement of lost military aircraft. Initial strikes utilized expensive precision-guided weapons like the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon, costing $578,000 to $836,000 per unit. As operations progressed, the Pentagon shifted to less expensive munitions including the Joint Direct Attack Munition. Daily munitions spending began at approximately $2 billion before declining to $1 billion daily, with further reductions expected unless escalation occurs.

Read at www.theguardian.com