Recent financial estimates have shown that the true cost of US military operations against Iran has far exceeded the figures previously announced by the US Department of Defense (Pentagon). While hostile operations ceased about two months ago, data has begun to emerge indicating a significant inflation in expenses related to field operations, equipment maintenance, and troop redeployment in the region, posing unprecedented challenges to the military budget.
According to expert sources and follow-ups by 'Fortune' magazine, the initial cost of the conflict has settled at the $200 billion mark, a figure that is seven times higher than the Pentagon's initial estimate of $29 billion. This massive increase is due to the inclusion of costs for deploying more than 5,000 additional troops, along with the heavy consumption of smart munitions and urgent repair operations required by military vehicles involved in the conflict.
Regarding armament, reports revealed a crisis in replenishing stocks, as the cost of replacing 'Tomahawk' missiles skyrocketed to between $3 and $6 million per missile, after previously ranging from $1 to $2 million. This increase in manufacturing costs places additional pressure on the US Navy, which relied heavily on these missiles during airstrikes.
In terms of military readiness, an analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicated that the first seven weeks of fighting witnessed a dangerous depletion of defensive and offensive capabilities. US forces consumed approximately 45% of their precision strike missile inventory, in addition to losing half of the stock of 'THAAD' and 'Patriot' air defense systems, raising questions about the ability to confront other simultaneous conflicts.
The losses were not limited to ammunition but extended to US military infrastructure in the Middle East, where approximately 230 facilities suffered varying degrees of damage. Estimates suggest that rehabilitation and repair operations for these bases and facilities will require a budget ranging from $200 to $300 billion, to be distributed over spending plans extending from three to five years.
This data confirms that the long-term financial burden of the war will continue to haunt the US economy and the Department of Defense for years, far from the political statements that attempted to downplay the extent of the losses. The scale of depletion in interceptor and offensive missiles puts Washington in a position where it must accelerate the pace of war production to compensate for the severe shortage that has affected the pillars of its air defense in the region.
The officially announced figure from the Pentagon does not reflect the true extent of military spending, which included a severe depletion of strategic munitions.
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Shocking Estimates: US War on Iran Exceeds $200 Billion, Drains Half of Precision Missile Stock