Pentagon’s Iran war costs hit $38 billion in five months – budget office

Costs could rise by $2-3 billion a month or higher if the fighting escalates, the Congressional Budget Office has cautioned The US war with Iran cost the Pentagon approximately $38 billion in its first five months, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

The bill could rise by another $2 billion to $3 billion for every additional month of fighting – and by more if hostilities intensify.

In a report released on Tuesday, the CBO estimated Defense Department expenses from the start of US combat operations on February 28 through August 1.

The figure includes the estimated cost of replacing expended munitions and equipment lost in battle, as well as additional flying hours, military operations, and higher fuel costs.

Read more US democracy hits 50-year lows – report The office said its estimate was “subject to considerable uncertainty” because the Pentagon did not provide the requested information, forcing analysts to rely on government databases and publicly available reports.

The estimate also excludes the cost of repairing damaged US bases, military casualties, future veterans’ care, and expenses borne by other federal agencies.

Another month of conflict would cost about $2 billion if violence remains at the “low and sporadic” levels seen in May and June, the CBO estimated.

If operations return to their July intensity, the monthly bill would rise to about $3 billion.

Costs could be higher still if the conflict escalates further.

Billions of dollars’ worth of US weaponry has been used up in the conflict.

The CBO estimates that replacing munitions used through August 1 would cost $21.7 billion, including $7.3 billion for land-attack cruise missiles, $13.1 billion for missile-defense interceptors and $1.2 billion for other weapons.

Read more Disgruntled troops leak PHOTOS of extensive damage to US bases from Iranian strikes The Trump administration asked Congress in June for $87.6 billion in supplemental funding, including $67.1 billion for the Defense Department.

The CBO assessed that $42.3 billion of the overall request appeared directly related to the Iran war.

The report was released as CBS News published photographs showing extensive damage caused by Iranian missile and drone strikes on US positions across the Middle East.