WASHINGTON (AP) — The cost of the war in Iran to American taxpayers rose to $47.1 billion, according to a new estimate the Pentagon provided to Congress. The consequences of the conflict have become a key issue in the midterm elections and could become more pronounced as President Donald Trump leaves open the possibility of a resumption of hostilities.
The figure from US Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, dates from October 16 and is the most recent cost of the conflict since its inception. launched at the end of February by the United States and Israel. The latest price, obtained by The Associated Press this week, shows a $3.5 billion increase in U.S. spending since early September, when that figure amounted to approximately $43.6 billion.
The increasing cost of the unpopular war And its economic knock-on effects on energy prices could harm the Republicans in next week’s midterm elections. Voters will decide Tuesday which political party will control Congress during Trump’s final two years in office.
The Republican president said new strikes against Iran were an option after the midterms and that he send more military resources in the Middle East, although they initially promised the Americans a military campaign that only lasts a few weeks. As the cost of the war in lives, taxpayer dollars and economic impact rises, most voters say they want Congress to prioritize ending the conflict, according to a recent AP-NORC poll.
The cost of the conflict and military spending in general are already a contentious issue on Capitol Hill, where the Trump administration is pushing for passage of landmark legislation. Proposed $1.5 trillion military budget. White House also asks lawmakers to approve a package of 95 billion dollars it would help finance the war in Iran and other priorities.
Wednesday marks eight months of war, which Democrats supported I’m trying to put an end to it with a law which failed to pass the Republican-controlled Congress.
“Trump and his ego have led us into this war without a plan, without authority and without an exit strategy,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said in a news release. “Senate Democrats will continue to do everything in their power to end this disaster of a war and stop the costs, chaos and corruption leaking from the White House. »
According to the latest estimates, most of the costs of the war are in replacing munitions, at around $29 billion. The advanced weapons most in demand and whose inventories have been reduced are defensive missile interceptors, such as those launched by the military. Patriot and THAAD systemswith a single Patriot interceptor costing millions of dollars.
The Pentagon says about $11.9 billion is related to operating costs, while another $6 billion is related to equipment losses. The costs of the Air Force now stand at $7.6 billion, and those of the Army more than $2 billion. The Navy’s costs were put at $1.45 billion, a significant drop from the $2.2 billion announced in early September.
When asked why the Navy’s cost estimates had declined over a period of about six weeks, the Navy and U.S. Central Command referred those questions to the Pentagon, which did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the new cost estimates.
The latest estimate does not include damage to US bases in the Middle East, which the Islamic Republic attacked with ballistic missiles and drones. A report from the Pentagon inspector general published last month, said Iranian strikes damaged and destroyed hundreds of buildings and other structures at U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan.
The official Pentagon count shows 21 soldiers killed and 865 wounded in the conflict. This count includes soldiers who died in medical events and in other situations not directly linked to the conflict, with 18 service members having been killed following Iranian strikes, fighter plane crashes or the elimination of Iranian drones.
As Trump repeatedly ponders whether to make a deal with Iran or “finish them,” a third aircraft carrier and thousands more troops are being made. their way to the region. The Trump administration also reduced staff in some American embassies after receive information that Iran has stepped up its efforts to target American personnel.
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Follow AP coverage of the Iran war at https://apnews.com/hub/iran.
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