US military cost of Iran war passes $47 billion, Pentagon estimate shows

The war with Iran has cost the US military at least $47.1 billion as of mid-October, according to a new estimate from US Central Command (CENTCOM) obtained by CBS News. Reuters, citing Pentagon data it reviewed, also reported a total of more than $47 billion, more than 25 percent above the Defense Department's estimate in July.

According to the CBS report, the largest part of the total is about $29 billion to replace expended munitions. The military also counted $6.1 billion to replace lost equipment and about $11.9 billion in incremental costs, such as support for American service members. The estimate was provided to lawmakers.

The figure does not include damage to US military bases in the Middle East, many of which were targeted by Iranian drones and missiles. CNBC cited a lead inspector general report to Congress that put damage to US diplomatic facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates at $184 million as of June 29.

Three months ago, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers the war had cost around $37.5 billion, also excluding damaged bases. The Congressional Budget Office said last month the war could cost $2 billion to $3 billion per month while it continues, partly because of the need to replace interceptor missiles.

The Pentagon's inspector general said last month the US faces "strategic inventory shortfalls" because of the munitions used, and the Defense Department is working to speed up production. The Trump administration has argued the military is not facing shortages. In early September President Donald Trump said the US had "virtually unlimited amounts of Mid to High Grade Ammunition."

The administration asked Congress earlier this year for tens of billions of dollars in supplemental military funding, partly because of the Iran war. The request has not passed, and Democrats have pressed Hegseth for a more detailed accounting of costs.

The war enters its ninth month this week and its future is unclear. Exchanges between the US and Iran, common over the summer, have been quiet in recent weeks. At a rally in Lubbock, Texas, Trump said the war would end "whenever I want it to end" and that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. At a Florida rally last week he said "We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree."

CNBC reported Trump's approval rating at 32 percent in a Reuters/Ipsos poll on Monday, ahead of US midterm elections on Nov. 3. It also cited Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi as saying the war had cost American families about $2,000 on average as of Oct. 12.