IRIA News

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The United States used roughly $5.6 billion worth of munitions during the first two days of its war with Iran, according to figures shared with Congress by the Pentagon.

The estimate was provided to lawmakers by the Pentagon, reflecting the intense cost of the opening phase of the military campaign. Officials have not publicly disclosed the specific weapons used, citing security concerns and the sensitivity of operational details.

The spending occurred during the first 48 hours of the conflict, when U.S. forces relied heavily on advanced precision weapons to strike Iranian targets.

Early operations reportedly included cruise missiles, air defense interceptors, and other high-end munitions designed for long-range and highly accurate strikes. Officials say these weapons were used to quickly target key military facilities and infrastructure.

Concerns about U.S. weapons stockpiles have emerged as the war continues. Some lawmakers and analysts have questioned whether the rapid pace of weapons usage could strain American inventories, especially as the United States is also supporting Ukraine with military aid. However, the Trump administration has rejected suggestions that the military is facing shortages.

Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell said the Department of War has “everything it needs to execute any mission at the time and place of the President’s choosing and on any timeline.”

Military officials have also avoided discussing specific inventory levels in briefings, saying that detailed information about weapons stockpiles could pose national security risks.

War Enters Eleventh Day

The conflict between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other has now entered its eleventh day. Since the start of the war, American forces have carried out a large number of air and naval strikes across Iranian territory as part of a broader campaign aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities.

According to defense officials, more than 5,000 targets inside Iran have been struck since the fighting began. U.S. forces have also sunk or damaged more than 50 Iranian vessels, significantly affecting Iran’s naval operations and its ability to operate in nearby waters.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the pace of the operation continues to increase as the campaign progresses. Speaking during a Pentagon briefing, he suggested that the scale of the attacks could expand even further in the coming days.

“Today will be, yet again, our most intense day of strikes,” Hegseth said. He added that the military operation now involves larger numbers of aircraft and bombing missions. “The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes.”

Hegseth also said intelligence support for the campaign has improved over time, helping U.S. forces identify targets more effectively. “Intelligence more refined and better than ever,” he said.

At the same time, he noted that Iran’s missile launches appear to have slowed in recent days. “On the other hand, the last 24 hours have seen Iran fire the lowest number of missiles they’ve been capable of firing yet.”

Trump Says War Will Be Short

President Donald Trump has suggested that the war is intended to be limited in scope and duration. Speaking at a gathering of lawmakers in Florida, he described the military campaign as a brief operation designed to address specific threats.

“We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some evil,” Trump said. He added that the conflict is not expected to continue for a long period of time.

“And I think you’ll see it’s going to be a short-term excursion,” the president said.

Trump also praised the performance of the U.S. armed forces during the campaign. “How good is our military, right? Amazing. How good? Short term. Short term.”

Despite those comments, administration officials have avoided making firm predictions about when the conflict might end. Military leaders say the final objectives of the campaign will ultimately be determined by the president.

“Ultimately, the president gets to determine the end state of those objectives, right?” Hegseth said during the Pentagon briefing.

He also emphasized that the administration does not intend for the conflict to become open-ended. “But what he’s said continually, and I want the American people to understand, is this is not endless.”

At the same time, Hegseth made clear that U.S. forces remain prepared to continue operations as long as necessary. “Our will is endless.”

Rising Costs and Strategic Concerns

The early phase of the war relied heavily on expensive precision munitions, raising concerns in Washington about both financial costs and weapons inventories. Analysts say that during the opening days of the campaign, the U.S. military used large numbers of advanced weapons that cost millions of dollars per unit.

To reduce costs and preserve supplies, the Pentagon has reportedly begun shifting toward more widely available laser-guided bombs. These weapons are still precise but significantly cheaper than many advanced missile systems.

Experts say the change could reduce the cost of individual strikes from several million dollars to roughly $100,000 in some cases. Even so, the overall cost of the conflict continues to grow rapidly.

Some estimates suggest the war may already be costing the United States around $1 billion per day. If the conflict continues for several months, the total financial cost could reach hundreds of billions of dollars.

As a result, the Trump administration is expected to ask Congress for additional funding to support the military campaign. Officials are preparing a supplemental defense spending request that could reach tens of billions of dollars.

The proposal is likely to face significant debate on Capitol Hill, where some lawmakers have already expressed concern about the scale and duration of the conflict.

Global Military Impact

The war has also led to changes in the deployment of U.S. missile defense systems around the world. Defense officials say parts of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system have been moved from South Korea to the Middle East.

Patriot missile interceptors that were previously stationed in parts of the Indo-Pacific region have also been redeployed. These systems are among the most advanced air defense platforms used by the United States and are designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles.

Some analysts warn that relocating these systems could increase risks in other strategic regions. Weapons inventory expert Mark Cancian said heavy use of missile interceptors could weaken defenses elsewhere.

“The more THAADs and Patriots you shoot, the more risk you assume in the Indo-Pacific and in Ukraine,” he said.

The issue has become more complicated because U.S. military stockpiles were already under pressure after years of supplying weapons to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in 2022.

The Pentagon currently has about $5.2 billion remaining in funds to provide defense assistance to Ukraine. Officials say that amount could cover roughly six months of weapons deliveries if shipments continue at the current pace.

Casualties and Escalating Risks

The conflict has also resulted in casualties and unexpected incidents. Seven U.S. servicemembers have been killed since the war began. Six died in an Iranian drone strike on a military facility in Kuwait, while another was killed following an attack in Saudi Arabia.

In a separate incident, three U.S. fighter jets were destroyed in what officials described as a friendly-fire event involving Kuwaiti forces. Each aircraft was estimated to cost around $100 million.

Meanwhile, Iran has continued launching retaliatory strikes against U.S. and allied positions. Some reports indicate that Russia has been providing intelligence support to Iranian forces to improve the accuracy of their attacks.

Despite the growing costs and risks, the U.S. administration continues to emphasize that the campaign will remain limited. Officials say the goal is to weaken Iran’s military capabilities while avoiding a prolonged war, though the situation remains uncertain as fighting continues.