Experts have calculated the cost to the U.S. of Operation Epic Fury in Iran
The U.S. military campaign against the Iranian regime has cost the U.S. budget between $22.3 billion and $31 billion over the first five weeks of active operations.
This is reported by the Financial Times.
According to estimates by Elaine McCasker, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Washington’s daily expenses amount to about half a billion dollars. In addition to the direct funding of combat operations and the deployment of forces, a significant portion of the losses consists of the destruction of expensive military equipment, estimated at $2.1–3.6 billion.
Among the most significant U.S. losses are the destruction of AN/TPY-2 radar systems in Jordan and Qatar, each of which costs $500 million to replace and takes about three years to manufacture. There are also reports of damage to an E-3 Sentry aircraft ($700 million) and the loss of a KC-135 refueling aircraft ($160 million). Amid the escalation and Iranian strikes, Washington also lost an F-15 fighter jet worth $100 million, and during the withdrawal from certain areas, troops were forced to destroy their own MC-130J aircraft and MH-6 helicopters to prevent technology leaks. While Russia attempts to exploit the protracted conflict in the Middle East to deplete Western resources, the U.S. is forced to revise its defense budgets to cover the shortage of critical weapons. Global economists warn that further increases in spending could affect the volume of macro-financial aid to other regions, although the White House currently claims it can maintain stability on both fronts.
As a reminder, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran’s leadership demanding that the Strait of Hormuz be unblocked by Tuesday, April 7.
On Friday, April 3, the U.S. Air Force destroyed a strategic bridge connecting the Iranian capital, Tehran, and the city of Karaj.
Recall that the IRGC announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and is threatening a “harsh response” to ships.
