The Multi-Billion Dollar Price of War US Spends ₹31,000 Crore in First 100 Hours of Iran Campaign:

As the military confrontation in the Middle East enters its seventh day, a startling report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has revealed the astronomical financial toll on the American taxpayer. Under “Operation Epic Fury,” the US military campaign against Iran has reportedly cost $3.7 billion (approx. ₹31,000 crore) in just its first 100 hours.

With daily expenditures averaging $890 million (₹7,500 crore)the conflict is rapidly becoming one of the most expensive short-term military interventions in recent history.

Breaking Down the $3.7 Billion Bill

The CSIS report, authored by experts Mark Cancian and Chris Park, breaks the initial costs into three major categories:

Air Defense Interceptors ($1.7 Billion): A massive portion was spent on high-end defensive systems like Patriot missiles to intercept Iranian retaliatory strikes.

Offensive Munitions ($1.5 Billion): This includes the cost of Tomahawk cruise missiles, JASSM air-launched missiles, and JDAM “smart bombs” used in the initial waves of strikes on March 1-2.

Operations & Logistics ($125 Million): Fuel, maintenance, and flight-hour costs for the hundreds of sorties flown by F-15s, B-2 bombers, and carrier-based aircraft.

Combat Losses ($359 Million): Initial estimates for the replacement of equipment, including at least three F-15 fighter jets reported lost during the campaign.

The Budget Crisis: Pentagon Needs More Cash

The most concerning part for Washington is that the current defense budget was never built for a full-scale war with Iran.

Unbudgeted Spending: CSIS analysts point out that only about $200 million of the initial cost was covered by the existing 2026 defense budget.

The $3.5 Billion Gap: The remaining $3.54 billion is “unbudgeted,” meaning the Pentagon will likely need an emergency supplemental appropriation from Congress to continue the war.

Depleting Stockpiles: The intense use of “exquisite” munitions (high-cost, high-precision missiles) is depleting US stockpiles faster than they can be manufactured, raising concerns about long-term readiness.

The “Hidden” Economic Impact

Beyond direct military spending, the war is triggering a broader economic shock:

Energy Costs: Global oil prices have spiked by $10 per barrelwith US gas prices already creeping toward $3.50 a gallon.

Global Trade: With the Strait of Hormuz partially blocked, freight and insurance costs for international shipping have surged, threatening a new wave of global inflation.

The $210 Billion Warning: Some economists, including those from the Penn Wharton Budget Model, warn that if the conflict lasts two months, the total economic cost to the US could reach $210 billion.

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