Day 1: Operation Epic Fury Begins — $779 Million Spent in 24 Hours

At 6:15 AM UTC on February 28, 2026, the United States launched Operation Epic Fury — an unprovoked military assault against the Islamic Republic of Iran. By the time the sun set on the first day, American taxpayers had spent $779 million and at least 201 Iranian civilians were dead, with 747 more wounded.

The Opening Salvo

The attack began with cyber and space operations at 06:30 UTC, followed almost immediately by four B-2 Spirit stealth bombers launching from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri — a round trip of over 30 flight hours each, at $150,741 per flight hour. Cost of the B-2 missions alone: $30.2 million.

By 08:00, the first wave of approximately 120 Tomahawk cruise missiles was in the air, launched from Arleigh Burke-class destroyers positioned in the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. At $2–2.5 million per missile, this single salvo cost American taxpayers approximately $240 million — enough to fund the entire WIC nutrition program for two weeks.

At noon, JASSM-ER cruise missiles struck hardened targets across Iran, adding another $90 million to the tab.

A Tragic Error: Three F-15EX Jets Lost to Friendly Fire

The Human Cost: Day 1

While Pentagon briefings focused on "targets neutralized" and "military objectives achieved," the Iranian Red Crescent was counting bodies. By the end of February 28:

• 201 Iranian civilians killed
• 747 Iranian civilians wounded
• Over 1,000 targets struck across the country, according to CENTCOM

Iran is a nation of 90 million people. The vast majority are ordinary families — teachers, shopkeepers, students, grandparents — who posed no threat to any American. Yet they bore the brunt of this assault.

The Cost Per Second

On Day 1, the burn rate was approximately $335 million per day in operational costs alone, or roughly $3,877 per second. Every second that passed, another $3,877 of American taxpayer money evaporated into smoke and shrapnel over Iranian cities.

For context, the median American household earns about $80,000 per year. The US spent more than a median household's annual income every 21 seconds on Day 1 of this war.

What Could $779 Million Have Done Instead?

Instead, it was spent destroying a country that had not attacked the United States.