Price of Fury: report details Iran war’s toll on US bases, weapons and more

The Pentagon inspector general's report, released on Monday, provides an official accounting of the costs of the US war with Iran, including human lives, taxpayer dollars, and physical damage. The conflict has resulted in advanced weapons shortfalls and industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply, with experts estimating it would take three years to replenish advanced missiles and defensive missile interceptors to pre-war levels.

The report covers the period from April 1 to June 30 and notes that Iranian strikes damaged and destroyed hundreds of buildings at US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Jordan. Bahrain's naval base, a US Navy logistics hub, was targeted with Iranian drones and ballistic missiles, forcing US Central Command (CENTCOM) to shift supply lines to alternate hubs much farther away, resulting in 14- to 18-day logistics cycles to support operations in the Middle East.

Dozens of American aircraft and drones, including up to 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones costing around US$30 million apiece, were destroyed or damaged by Iran. Seven KC-135 refuelling aircraft were damaged or destroyed, and another KC-135 crashed in Iraq, killing six service members. The war has cost more than US$37.5 billion so far, with physical damage to US diplomatic facilities, estimated at US$184 million, not previously publicly released.

The evacuation of US citizens following the US and Israel's strikes on Iran in February 28 cost over US$11 million, with evacuation operations from Israel, Iraq, and Jordan being the most expensive. The report also mentions that over US$44 billion in emergency and non-emergency military sales were made during this period, with the majority of sales going to Saudi Arabia.