One Week of War with Iran: $7+ Billion and 1,332 Civilians Dead

One week ago, the United States launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran. It was a war of choice — unprovoked, unauthorized by Congress, and opposed by the majority of the international community. Here is what it has produced.

The Financial Cost

Direct Military Spending

• Pre-war buildup (Jan 23 – Feb 28): $630 million
• First 24 hours of strikes: $779 million
• Tomahawk missiles expended (~400): $800 million
• Other precision munitions (JASSM-ER, JDAMs, PrSM, GBU-57): $400+ million
• Daily operations (7 days at $110–175M/day): $1+ billion
• Interceptors (THAAD, Patriot, SM-6): $3 billion

Equipment Destroyed by Iranian Counterstrikes

• 3 THAAD AN/TPY-2 radars (UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia): $1.5 billion
• AN/FPS-132 early-warning radar (Qatar): $1.1 billion
• 3 F-15EX Strike Eagles (friendly fire): $309 million
• Base damage across Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Iraq: $300+ million
• SATCOM terminals, facilities, infrastructure: $100+ million

Ongoing Costs Accumulating Daily

• Two carrier strike groups: $14.5 million/day
• Land-based aircraft operations: $23 million/day
• Strait of Hormuz escort: $10 million/day
• Equipment wear and maintenance: $10 million/day
• Personnel combat/hazard pay: $3.5 million/day
• Fuel above peacetime baseline: $5 million/day

The Human Cost

Iranian Civilians

• 1,332 killed (Al Jazeera, March 6)
• 5,402 wounded including 100+ children (HRANA)
• Major incidents: Minab school massacre (180 dead), Day 1 strikes (201 dead), Tehran residential bombing

Iranian Military

• 40+ senior commanders killed including IRGC Commander-in-Chief, Chief of Staff, Defense Minister
• 20+ naval vessels sunk or disabled
• Air defense, missile, and nuclear infrastructure extensively damaged

US Military

• 6 killed
• 18+ wounded

Regional Civilian Impact

• 1 killed at Abu Dhabi airport (drone debris)
• 7 injured at Abu Dhabi airport
• Bahrain: residential towers hit (Fontana Towers, Hilton Hotel)
• Kuwait: oil tanker explosion
• Qatar: US Embassy evacuation ordered

What the Analysts Say

• Penn Wharton Budget Model: Direct military cost if war lasts under 2 months: $40–95 billion. Broader economic impact: up to $210 billion.
• CSIS: First 100 hours cost $3.7 billion ($891 million/day)
• Center for American Progress: Through Day 4, total exceeded $5 billion
• Congress: Expected to pass ~$50 billion supplemental war funding bill

The Broader Economic Damage

• Oil prices: up 5.8% and climbing
• Strait of Hormuz shipping: near halt
• LNG production disrupted in Qatar
• Saudi refinery capacity reduced by 550,000 bpd
• Estimated economic impact: $100–700 million per day in energy and trade disruption
• Long-term veteran healthcare costs (Brown University): $10–50 billion over decades

Was It Worth It?

One week in, the question is no longer whether this war can be won. The question is what "winning" even means when:

• 1,332 civilians who posed no threat to America are dead
• 100+ children are among the wounded
• A school was bombed, killing 180
• $7+ billion in taxpayer money has been spent
• $3+ billion in US military equipment has been destroyed
• 6 American service members are dead
• The entire Gulf region is under fire
• Global energy markets are in turmoil
• Congress never authorized this war

Iran did not attack the United States. This was a war of aggression — a war of choice. And every day it continues, the cost in blood and treasure grows. Track it in real time at PayForWar.com.