Pentagon tells Congress Iran war cost at least $42 billion

The war with Iran has resulted in significant shortages of US munitions, according to a report from the Pentagon's inspector general. This contradicts President Donald Trump's repeated assertions that the US has "virtually unlimited" supplies of munitions and dismissed claims of shortages as "fake news". The inspector general's report revealed that the US spent over $22 billion on munitions between February and June, leading to "strategic inventory shortfalls".

The report also noted industrial base bottlenecks that have impeded munitions resupply. While the exact number of remaining weapons is not disclosed, the inventory shortfalls have been significant, particularly for interceptors such as the Patriot missile and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), with some stocks depleted by more than half.

The report also highlighted the loss of $3.7 billion worth of equipment and other expenditures totaling $7.4 billion, bringing the total US spending on the war to $33.4 billion from February to June. The war's impact on US forces has been substantial, including the loss of four F-15e fighter jets, a highly advanced F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and 30 MQ-9 drones.

Despite its initial claims of a swift resolution, the conflict has dragged on, with President Trump suggesting it might not end until after the November midterm elections. Public opinion polls reveal that the war is widely unpopular among Americans, with only 23% of respondents and half of Republicans believing the US is in a stronger position with Iran compared to before the conflict began.