The cost of Pentagon operations against Iran had reached approximately $38 billion as of August 1, according to a report by the U.S. Congressional Budget Office.
The assessment of the campaign launched at the end of February under the name Operation Epic Fury examined costs under four categories: operational expenditures, opportunity costs, economic effects and potential additional spending.
Additional monthly costs could reach $3 billion
The report said that if the conflict continues, additional monthly spending could range from $2 billion to $3 billion, depending on the intensity of the fighting.
Operational expenses included replenishing munitions, replacing equipment lost in the fighting, increased flight hours, field operations and fuel costs.
Security warning over air defense stocks
The report identified air defense missiles as the Pentagon's largest cost item and said that declining stockpiles could weaken U.S. military capabilities for several years.
According to the report, this could create serious security risks in crises involving countries with significant ballistic- and cruise-missile capabilities. Disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea have also driven up global prices for crude oil, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.
Iran's announcement on casualties
Iran said that the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28 had killed more than 3,000 people.
Iran carried out attacks on locations it identified as housing U.S. military facilities in Arab countries. Some of these attacks resulted in civilian deaths and damage to civilian facilities.
