As US and Israeli strikes on Iran intensify under Operation Epic Fury, the financial cost of the conflict is mounting at a rapid pace. While the human toll continues to rise across the region, policymakers and analysts are now grappling with another critical question: how much will this war ultimately cost the United States?
Early figures suggest that even in its opening hours, the campaign has come with a staggering price tag.
The First 24 Hours: A $700 Million Start
According to estimates cited by Turkey’s Anadolu news agency, the United States may have spent approximately $779 million in the first 24 hours of Operation Epic Fury alone.
This figure includes air operations, missile launches, logistics, and the deployment of high-end military hardware across the Middle East. Prior to the first strike, the Pentagon had already invested heavily in repositioning aircraft, deploying naval vessels, and reinforcing regional bases. Al Jazeera reported that this pre-strike military build-up cost an additional $630 million.
The rapid mobilisation reflects the scale of the operation. Fighter aircraft deployed under US Central Command included F-18s, F-16s, F-22s, and F-35s. Based on projected flight hours, maintenance requirements, and munition usage outlined in recent Department of Defence budget documents, early air sorties are estimated to have cost roughly $271 million.
Beyond fighter jets, the US has deployed specialised aircraft such as the EA-18G Growler for electronic warfare, A-10C Thunderbolt attack aircraft, MQ-9 Reaper drones, and other unmanned systems. Each platform carries its own operating and maintenance costs, adding to the growing total.
The Daily Cost of Naval Power
Even without ground troops deployed at scale, maintaining a significant naval presence in the region is expensive.
The Center for New American Security estimates that operating a carrier strike group, such as the USS Gerald R. Ford, costs approximately $6.5 million per day. If multiple carrier groups remain in the region for several weeks, operational costs could quickly reach hundreds of millions of dollars.
These figures cover fuel, personnel, maintenance, and aircraft operations aboard the carrier and its escort ships. Missile defence interceptors, drone surveillance missions, and intelligence-gathering operations further increase daily expenditures.
If President Donald Trump’s suggested timeline of four to five weeks holds, the cumulative operational costs could multiply rapidly.
Lessons From Past Conflicts
History suggests that initial combat expenses often represent only a fraction of a war’s eventual price tag.
The war in Afghanistan, which lasted nearly 20 years, cost trillions. According to reporting by the Associated Press, Congress allocated just over $1 trillion to the Department of Defence specifically for Afghan operations. However, when broader costs were included — such as Pentagon base budget increases, State Department reconstruction funding, interest on borrowed funds, and long-term veterans’ care — the total exceeded $2.3 trillion.
Veterans’ medical and disability costs alone reached approximately $465 billion through fiscal year 2022. Harvard scholar Linda Bilmes has projected that future care obligations for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans could add another $2 trillion by 2050.
More recently, Brown University’s Costs of War project estimated that since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, the US has spent $21.7 billion in military aid to Israel. Additional regional military operations have cost between $9.65 billion and $12.07 billion. Combined, those expenditures exceed $31 billion — and counting.
These examples illustrate how quickly war-related spending can expand beyond initial battlefield operations.
Energy Markets and Indirect Economic Impact
Beyond direct Pentagon spending, there are broader economic risks.
The conflict has already unsettled oil markets. Any threat to the Strait of Hormuz — a key maritime route through which a significant share of global oil passes — could send crude prices higher. Rising energy costs would likely fuel inflation in the United States and impact global economic growth.
Such indirect consequences do not appear in military budgets but can impose substantial costs on households and businesses through higher fuel prices and supply chain disruptions.
An Uncertain Timeline
President Donald Trump has described Operation Epic Fury as decisive but open-ended. Speaking at the White House, he said the campaign was initially projected to last “four to five weeks” but added that the US has the capability to continue for longer if necessary.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has insisted the conflict will not become “endless”, while acknowledging that further American casualties are possible.
On the ground, the violence continues. Iranian authorities report hundreds of fatalities across multiple cities, while Israel and Lebanon have also recorded casualties. Missile exchanges and air operations remain ongoing, underscoring the volatility of the situation.
The Bottom Line
In just one day, Operation Epic Fury has reportedly cost the United States more than $700 million. With naval forces deployed, advanced aircraft flying daily missions, and regional tensions rising, the financial burden is likely to grow with each passing week.
Whether the conflict concludes within the projected timeline or stretches further will determine whether this becomes a short, high-intensity campaign or another prolonged and expensive chapter in America’s military history.