The first Pentagon watchdog report on Operation Epic Fury puts the early cost of the Iran war at $33.4 billion — and warns the fighting has left the U.S. with strategic munitions shortfalls..
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The Defense Department inspector general estimates the U.S. spent $33.4 billion on the operation through late June, including $22.3 billion in expended munitions and $3.7 billion in equipment losses. The estimate does not include infrastructure repair costs.
The report also says the heavy use of munitions created “strategic inventory shortfalls” and exposed bottlenecks in the defense industrial base’s ability to replace them.
A costly burn rate
The report covers the quarter ending June 30, with its cost estimate reaching back to the start of the operation on Feb. 28.
U.S. forces launched Operation Epic Fury as part of a U.S.-Israeli campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear, missile, naval and security infrastructure, according to the report. U.S. Central Command said American forces conducted about 36,000 combat sorties and more than 1,800 fire missions during major combat operations.
The watchdog said the defense industrial base needs “significant lead time” to expand production. The most persistent chokepoints include solid rocket motors, high-grade explosives and propellants, and skilled manufacturing labor.
The findings contrast with President Donald Trump’s public comments about U.S. weapons production. Trump said Monday the U.S. is producing more advanced weapons than at any time in its history and that Patriots, THAAD systems, Tomahawks and other missiles are being delivered daily to forces in the Middle East and beyond.
Aircraft, bases and troops
The report also details U.S. losses.
Seven U.S. service members were killed in action and seven died in non-hostile events from Feb. 28 to June 30. Another 417 were wounded. Four additional service members were killed in action in July.
Dozens of aircraft were damaged or destroyed, including four F-15Es, an A-10 and as many as 30 MQ-9 drones. An F-35A was damaged, along with seven KC-135 refueling aircraft that were damaged or destroyed.
Iranian strikes damaged and destroyed hundreds of buildings and structures at U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan, according to the report.
The bill is still growing
The State Department reported $113 million in conflict-related costs as of June 2, including $79.2 million for evacuation-related expenses and other contingencies.
U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE sustained about $184 million in damage. Iraq accounted for most of that total.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress in July that without supplemental funding, the Pentagon could face critical shortfalls affecting pay, munitions replacement and global operations. The White House has requested $67.1 billion for the Pentagon, including $21 billion for munitions.
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