WASHINGTON — The war in Iran has cost the United States about $25 billion so far, Pentagon officials told Congress on Wednesday, providing the first official estimate of the total cost of Operation Epic Fury.
“Approximately, at this day, we’re spending about $25 billion on Operation Epic Fury,” Jules Hurst, the Pentagon’s acting comptroller and chief financial officer, said during testimony to the House Armed Services Committee.
With just six months before mid-term elections in which Trump’s Republicans may face an uphill battle to keep their House majority, Democrats are riding high in public opinion polls as they attempt to link the unpopular Iran war with affordability.
Hurst did not detail what that cost estimate included and whether it took into account the projected costs of rebuilding and repairing base infrastructure in the Middle East damaged in the conflict.
Hurst said most of that sum is in the cost of munitions, with the balance paying for operations and maintenance and “equipment replacement.” Among the military’s losses have been radars and airplanes, as well as some base facilities.
Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, responded to Hurst: “I’m glad you answered that question. Because we’ve been asking for a hell of a long time, and no one’s given us the number.”
The Pentagon is planning a supplemental budget request to cover the cost of the war, Hurst said, but has yet to compile a complete estimate of those costs, which are continuing.
“We will formulate a supplemental through the White House that will come to Congress once we have a full assessment of the cost of the conflict,” Hurst said in response to a question from Rep. Smith.
The United States started carrying out strikes against Iran on Feb.28 and the two sides are currently maintaining a fragile ceasefire. The Pentagon has poured tens of thousands of additional forces into the Middle East, including keeping three aircraft carriers in the region.
Thirteen US troops have been killed in the conflict and hundreds wounded.
Disruptions in shipments of oil and natural gas since the war started have caused a run-up in US gasoline prices and agricultural products such as fertilizers, on top of the long list of other high consumer prices.
Trump’s popularity has taken a beating since then. Just 34 percent of Americans approve of the US conflict with Iran, down from 36 percent in mid-April and 38 percent in mid-March, a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found. — Agencies
Source: Saudi Gazette