US Spends Staggering $11.3 Billion in First 6 Days of Iran War

Internal Pentagon briefings leaked on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, revealed that the first six days of Operation Epic Fury, the US-Israeli joint offensive against Iran—cost American taxpayers a staggering $11.3 billion. This figure, delivered to senators in a classified session, represents the most detailed accounting yet of the conflict’s financial scale.

Why the Cost is Scaling So Rapidly

Military analysts and congressional sources point to an unprecedented “burn rate” of high-value precision munitions as the primary driver of these costs.

• Precision Overload: The opening wave relied heavily on AGM-154 JSOW glide bombs (costing up to $836,000 each) and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
• Air Defense Strain: To counter Iranian retaliatory barrages, the US and its allies reportedly exhausted over 1,000 Patriot missiles in just 11 days—surpassing the total number of Patriots sent to Ukraine over the past four years.
• Hidden Costs: The $11.3 billion figure reportedly excludes pre-deployment costs (moving carriers and troops into position) and the replacement of lost assets, such as the $1.1 billion AN/FPS-132 radar destroyed in Qatar early in the conflict.

“We Won” — Trump’s Kentucky Proclamation

During a campaign-style rally in Hebron, Kentucky, on Wednesday, President Donald Trump struck a triumphant note, claiming the outcome of the war had been decided in the “first hour.”

• The Quote: “You never like to say too early you won. We won. In the first hour, it was over.”
• The Caveat: Despite the victory claim, Trump emphasized that American forces would not “leave early,” stating the need to fully degrade Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities before a withdrawal.
• Domestic Pressure: The President’s victory rhetoric comes as his administration prepares to ask Congress for a $50 billion supplemental funding package to backfill depleted munition stockpiles.

Critical Asset and Operational Losses

Independent estimates from the CSIS and Anadolu Agency suggest the true cost of the first week could be even higher when accounting for “attrition” (combat losses):

• Early Warning Systems: The loss of the $1.1 billion early warning radar at Al-Udeid, Qatar.
• Aviation Losses: Three F-15E Strike Eagles lost in a friendly-fire incident over Kuwait and three MQ-9 Reaper drones downed by Iranian defenses.
• Naval Toll: Two satellite communication terminals and buildings at the 5th Fleet HQ in Bahrain were destroyed during the initial Iranian counter-strikes.

“They are going to spend hundreds of billions… the $11.3 billion estimate represents only the first installment of what could become a massive financial commitment.” — Analysis from The Economic Times.

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The $50 Billion Funding Fight

With the $11.3 billion already spent, the White House is expected to submit a formal emergency funding request to Congress by Monday. While Republican leaders argue the strikes were necessary to prevent a nuclear Iran, Democrats have introduced War Powers Resolutions to force a withdrawal, citing the staggering cost and the humanitarian toll, including the accidental strike on a girls’ school in Minab.

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