US spent over $5bn on munitions during first days of Iran war

WorldPolitics
11 Mar 2026 • 1:51 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • The U.S. spent an estimated $5.6 billion on weaponry within the first two days of its conflict with Iran, an estimate the Pentagon provided to lawmakers.
  • This significant spending occurred after a surprise attack by the U.S. and Israel on Iran, which has since broadened into a wider Middle East conflict causing hundreds of casualties.
  • Donald Trump's administration is expected to request a supplemental defense budget from Congress, potentially totaling tens of billions of dollars, to finance the ongoing military campaign.
  • The U.S. has deployed over 100 precision weapons, hit more than 5,000 targets, and sunk over 50 Iranian vessels, with military officials planning to transition to laser-guided bombs due to concerns about depleting precision munition stockpiles.
  • The high financial cost of the war has drawn criticism from the public and politicians, who suggest the funds could be better allocated to domestic programs, while polls indicate a majority of Americans oppose the conflict.

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