NYT: Over 60% went to bombs and missiles; tens of billions more may be needed to rebuild damaged bases

Ships navigate the Strait of Hormuz. [AP]
Ships navigate the Strait of Hormuz. [AP]

The United States has spent $47.1 billion on the war against Iran in just over seven months — a figure that excludes the cost of rebuilding American military bases damaged or destroyed in Iranian attacks, meaning the true price tag could be far higher, according to a new report.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that the latest figures submitted by the US Department of Defense to congressional national security committees put total war costs at $47.1 billion as of Oct. 16.

The largest share went to munitions. Replenishing and replacing bombs, missiles and other ammunition cost $29 billion — roughly 62 percent of the total.

Replacing damaged or destroyed weapons and military equipment, including fighter jets, accounted for another $6.1 billion.

Breaking down costs by service branch, the Air Force spent $7.6 billion operating dozens of fighter and bomber squadrons. The Army spent $2.1 billion maintaining troops in the Middle East, while the Navy spent $1.5 billion deploying more than 20 warships, including several aircraft carriers.

Although Donald Trump has put large-scale combat operations on hold for now, war costs have risen by $3.5 billion since the Defense Department shared its estimates with Congress about six weeks ago.

The figures also include $645 million to deploy and support thousands of special operations forces in the region. US Transportation Command spent $92.2 million moving supplies and equipment, US Cyber Command spent $14 million on support operations, and medical care for service members cost $24.5 million.

According to the Defense Department, more than 50,000 US troops have been assigned to the mission, with 18 killed and more than 860 wounded.

Congressional officials said the estimate likely understates the actual cost, noting that it excludes $1.5 billion in fuel and other expenses the Trump administration included in a supplemental budget request to fund the war.

Also absent from the tally are the costs of repairing or replacing US military facilities damaged or destroyed by Iranian strikes, including the US Navy's Fifth Fleet base in Manama, Bahrain. The Defense Department has signaled it may close or forgo repairs on some facilities, but congressional officials said reconstruction — whether by US forces or host nations — could run into the tens of billions of dollars.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration are asking Congress for up to $70 billion in emergency military spending to cover war costs and procure new weapons and personnel.

On the question of war spending, Hegseth told Congress in July that the US had spent $37.5 billion at that point.


mokiya@heraldcorp.com