The real price of a war with Iran is approaching $50 billion nearly double the figure the Pentagon recently presented to Congress, according to US officials who spoke to CBS News.
Citing internal assessments, CBS reported that the official estimate of $25 billion for “Operation Epic Wrath” significantly understates the true cost, as it does not fully account for destroyed or damaged military equipment and facilities.
The revelation came as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Keane testified before lawmakers to defend the Pentagon’s massive $1.5 trillion budget request.
Equipment and ammunition losses drive up the cost
According to officials, a major factor behind the discrepancy is the expense of replacing munitions used in the conflict, alongside substantial equipment losses. The Pentagon alone lost 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones in operations – each costing approximately $30 million or more – highlighting the scale of accumulated financial damage.
Officials noted that the higher $50 billion estimate reflects not only the pace of military operations but also the “invisible costs” associated with equipment losses in the field.
Indirect costs and ongoing pressure
Mark Cancian, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), explained that while munitions represent the largest direct expense, additional indirect costs add significantly to the total. Increased fuel consumption from aircraft, ships, and trucks, along with ripple effects across other departments such as Homeland Security, further strain the budget.
Cancian added that replacing the munitions already used would take “several years,” underscoring the prolonged economic drain imposed by the war.
Direct repercussions on the American home front
The report emphasized that the cost of the war is not limited to the military budget. The financial pressures extend directly to the US economy and American citizens, raising concerns over broader domestic consequences as the nation absorbs the multibillion-dollar toll.
Source: CBS NEWS