American media reported on October 27 that the cost of the U.S. military campaign against Iran has risen to at least $47 billion, which is $3.5 billion higher than the estimate made in early September. Data gathered by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on October 16 and passed by the Pentagon to Congress last week records accelerating cost growth amid the protracted conflict, which began on February 28 with coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities.
Expense Structure: Ammunition and Operations
More than $29 billion of the total amount was directed toward replenishing used ammunition, including anti-air interceptor missiles and bombs. Another nearly $12 billion went to direct military operations, and about $6.1 billion was allocated for replacing lost military equipment. Thus, arsenal restoration remains the largest cost item, highlighting the scale of ordnance expended during the conflict.
Costs by Military Branch
Since the start of coordinated attacks on February 28, costs for the U.S. Air Force have amounted to approximately $7.6 billion, the Army to $2.1 billion, and the Navy to $1.5 billion. However, these estimates do not include the cost of repairing damage to American military bases in the Middle East, meaning the actual cost of the campaign could turn out higher than the cited figures.
Political Context: Midterm Elections
The publication of these data coincides with the concluding stage of the U.S. midterm elections. The conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has led to a sharp rise in fuel prices, increasing the living cost burden for American voters and putting pressure on the approval levels of Republican candidates. At the same time, President Donald Trump's Republicans hold only a slim majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. At campaign rallies, Trump has repeatedly stated that the war with Iran would end quickly and oil prices would drop immediately, yet the prospect of ending the conflict remains fragile as both sides continue to reject compromise.
Preparing a New Operation
Against this backdrop, CNN reported on October 26, citing two American officials, about the deployment of U.S. armed forces in the Middle East to carry out potential attacks against Iran. According to sources, the new operation could go far beyond limited strikes on radar systems, missile launchers, and other military targets that Iran is capable of quickly rebuilding; one official characterized it as large-scale. Meanwhile, the Washington administration has reportedly not yet made a final decision on continuing the operation.
