U.S. Defense Department Faces $3.7 Billion Cost for 'Epic Wrath' Operation

The U.S. Defense Department has not disclosed the specific costs associated with the 'Epic Wrath' operation, according to ABC News. However, the bipartisan think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates that the initial four days of the attack cost approximately $891 million per day, totaling around $3.7 billion. According to Jin10, CSIS noted that while some of these costs have been budgeted, the majority, approximately $3.5 billion, have not been accounted for. The staggering figure is primarily due to the intensity of the initial strikes, during which the U.S. military launched around 2,000 precision-guided munitions at Iran, including an unspecified number of Tomahawk cruise missiles, each costing over $2 million. Additional costs may include the loss of three F-15 fighter jets in Kuwait due to friendly fire, with each jet valued at approximately $31 million. Furthermore, the rapid mobilization of forces contributed to the expenses. A budget estimate indicates that during the peak of the Iraq War, military operations cost only about $300 million per day.