Officials in President Donald Trump’s administration estimated during a meeting with Congress this week that the first six days of the war with Iran cost the United States at least $11.3 billion, a source familiar with the matter said Wednesday.
The figure, reported in a closed-door meeting for senators on Tuesday, did not include the total cost of the war, but was provided to parliamentarians, who are demanding more information about the conflict.
Several congressional aides said they expect the White House to submit a request for additional funding for the war soon.
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Some of them estimate that the request could be US$50 billion, while others said that estimate seems low.
The government has not provided a public assessment of the cost of the conflict or a clear idea of how long it will last. Trump said, during a trip to Kentucky this Wednesday, that we ‘won’ the war, but that the United States will remain in the fight to finish the job.
The value of US$11.3 billion was published for the first time this Wednesday by the New York Times.
The campaign against Iran began on February 28 with US and Israeli airstrikes and has so far killed around 2,000 people, mostly Iranians and Lebanese, as the conflict spreads to Lebanon and throws global energy and transportation markets into chaos.
US government officials also informed parliamentarians that US$5.6 billion worth of ammunition was used during the first two days of attacks.
Members of Congress, who will soon have to approve additional funding for the war, have expressed concern that the conflict will deplete U.S. military supplies at a time when the defense sector is already struggling to keep up with demand.
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Trump met with executives from seven defense companies last week as the Pentagon works to replenish supplies.
Democratic lawmakers have demanded public testimony, under oath, from government officials about the Republican president’s plans for the war, including how long it might last and what his plans are for Iran after the fighting ends.
