The first week of the conflict with Iran has already cost the United States over $11.3 billion, according to a New York Times report on a recent Pentagon briefing.
This staggering figure highlights the rapid depletion of advanced munitions and military resources as the war intensifies.
However, the final price tag for the opening week is expected to climb even higher.
Sources familiar with the closed-door session told The Times that the current estimate excludes many logistical costs associated with the initial buildup to the strikes.
Defence officials had previously told Congress that roughly $5.6 billion worth of munitions were expended in just the first two days of fighting, according to US media — a burn rate far higher than earlier public estimates.
The Centre for Strategic and International Studies, an independent think tank in Washington, estimated that the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury cost $3.7 billion — or more than $891 million per day.
Most of these costs, $3.5 billion, had not already been budgeted, the CSIS said.
The Iran War Cost Tracker website, which estimates the cost of the conflict in real time, showed a figure of more than $17 billion on its counter at around 08:00 GMT on Thursday.
According to the site, the United States is spending $1 billion per day on the war.
However, it points out the true cost of the war is likely higher, as the figures do not take into account long-term expenses such as veteran healthcare.
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