US spent $22.3 billion on weapons in 4 months of Iran war, Pentagon report reveals

The US spent an estimated $33.4 billion on its war with Iran in the four months through June 29, with $22.3 billion going towards weapons and ammunition, according to a Pentagon watchdog report released Monday.

The report provides the first quarterly assessment of Operation Epic Fury, outlining the financial, military and logistical impact of the US campaign from February 28 to June 30.

Weapons use exposes supply concerns

Of the total estimated cost, $7.4 billion was spent on other war-related expenses, while military equipment worth another $3.7 billion was lost. The estimate does not include the cost of repairing damaged infrastructure.

The heavy use of US munitions during the conflict has also exposed weaknesses in the country's ability to replenish its stockpiles. The Pentagon watchdog said the campaign “has resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply.”

US acquisition officials told the inspector general that they were “working to streamline procurement processes and production lead times, and to stockpile critical materials, components, and selected munitions to respond rapidly to a contingency.”

US bases and military equipment hit

Iranian strikes damaged or destroyed “hundreds of buildings and structures” at US military bases across the Gulf, according to information provided by US Central Command.

US diplomatic facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were also damaged, with the cost estimated at $184 million.

The operation resulted in significant losses of military equipment. A fifth-generation F-35A fighter jet suffered enemy fire damage, marking the first reported battle damage to an F-35A.

Four F-15E fighter jets and an A-10 aircraft were destroyed by the end of June. Seven KC-135 refuelling aircraft were damaged or destroyed, while seven helicopters and more than 30 drones were also lost.

Trump dismisses weapons shortage concerns

The report's findings come as President Donald Trump has repeatedly played down concerns over US weapons inventories.

Before its release, Trump posted that the US “is producing more Exquisite and Elite Weapons than at any time in our History.”

On August 6, Trump said, “The US has massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types.”

He later said on September 9 that the US has “virtually unlimited amounts” of mid- to high-grade ammunition — “far more than we could ever use for this, or for any other War.”

The watchdog report said 11 US service members had been killed in action by the end of July, while more than 400 were wounded in action through the end of June.