Officials from the administration of President Donald Trump estimated during a congressional briefing this week that the first six days of the war on Iran have cost the United States at least 11.3 billion dollars.
The figures were disclosed during a closed-door session for senators on Tuesday. While the amount does not represent the total cost of the conflict, it was provided to lawmakers who have been demanding more transparency regarding the financial implications of the ongoing hostilities.
Several congressional aides indicated that the White House is expected to submit a formal request to Congress for additional war funding shortly. While some officials suggested the request could reach 50 billion dollars, others have cautioned that even this estimate may be too low given the scale of operations.
Escalating costs and military depletion
The administration has yet to provide a public assessment of the total cost or a definitive timeline for the conflict. During a visit to Kentucky on Wednesday, Trump stated that the United States had won the war but noted that forces would remain engaged to finish the job.
The 11.3 billion dollar figure, initially reported by the New York Times, highlights the intensity of the campaign that began on 28 February. The conflict, involving US and Israeli airstrikes, has resulted in approximately 2,000 fatalities, primarily among Iranians and Lebanese, as fighting spreads into Lebanon and disrupts global energy and transport sectors.
Internal briefings further revealed that 5.6 billion dollars worth of munitions were expended during the first two days of strikes alone. This rapid consumption of resources has sparked concern among members of Congress who must soon decide on further funding.
Pressure on the defense industry
There is growing apprehension that the conflict will severely deplete US military stockpiles. This comes at a time when the defense industry is already struggling to meet existing demands. To address these supply chain pressures, Trump met with executives from seven major defense contractors last week as the Pentagon seeks to replenish its inventories.
Democratic lawmakers are now pushing for administration officials to provide public testimony under oath. They are seeking clarity on the president’s long-term strategy, including the expected duration of the war and the post-conflict plans for Iran once active fighting ceases.
The administration continues to manage the fallout of the strikes, which have thrown international markets into a state of uncertainty as the military campaign enters its second week.
