US spending $1 billion every day on Iran war:America’s total expense in 6 days of Operation Epic Fury stands at more than $5 billion

The United States (US) completed 100 hours of ‘Operation Epic Fury’ on Thursday, 5 March 2026. The joint military operation along with Israel against Iran (which kick-started on Saturday, 28 February, 2026), raises serious questions, not just about the human cost, but also about the staggering financial implications. The Big Picture: Iran War – Very Expensive Undertaking Any large-scale military action is incredibly expensive. It involves deploying troops, using advanced weaponry, and potentially dealing with a prolonged conflict. A war with Iran would be no exception. According to the ‘www.iran-cost-ticker.com,’ the last recorded estimate of the Iran war 2026 was over $5 billion (₹45,000 crore), as of Thursday, 4 March 2026. Citing US Defence Department’s headquarters, Pentagon’s data, the war cost tracker platform says that America has spent a daily average of $1 billion (₹9,000 crore) since the war had begun on Saturday. While, this translates to $11,574 (₹10.41 lakh) per second and $41,666,667 (₹375 crore) per hour. While, according to another estimate by Qatari news media organisation, Aljazeera, since the start of regional conflict in West Asia back in 2022 right from the time when Iran-backed Hamas’ first strike on Israel and subsequent retaliatory strikes by Israel and consequent joint attacks of US and Israel on Iran on two occasions (one in June 2025 and another in February 2026, the total spending of the US government balloons to around $33.77 billion (₹3.03 lakh crore.) 1st 24 Hours Expenses of Operation Fury: According to estimates cited by Turkey’s news agency, Anadolu, the US may have spent roughly $779 million (₹7,011 crore) in just first 24 hours of the Operation Epic Fury. Before the Iran attack, the US positioned military assets around Iran. This preparation phase has come with a hefty price tag: Deployment Costs: Moving ships, aircraft, and troops to the region is expensive. Operational Costs: Maintaining these assets in a state of readiness requires fuel, supplies, and personnel. Opportunity Costs: The resources spent on positioning military assets could be used for other purposes, such as economic development or infrastructure projects. According to Aljazeera, the stationing of military warplanes around Iran is estimated to have cost an additional $630 million (₹5,670 crore) to the US government. Operation cost of positioning military equipment around Iran: While, citing the Center for New American Security’s estimation, Indian news daily, ‘Times of India’ reported that the US government has incurred daily operation cost of $6.5 million (₹58.5 crore) by just positioning America’s military warplanes in the region on land, air and sea before the Iran war 2026 kick-started on Saturday. What makes wars expensive? Military Operations: Bombing campaigns and maintaining a military presence in the region are all incredibly expensive. Equipment: Missiles, bombs, aircraft, tanks, and other military equipment are used at a rapid pace during wartime. Replacements and repairs add significantly to the cost. Personnel Costs: Paying soldiers, providing them with food and supplies, and covering healthcare costs all add up. Long-Term Costs: Wars often lead to long-term commitments, such as peacekeeping operations, reconstruction efforts, and caring for veterans. These costs can stretch out for decades. Israel’s Financial Burden in the Iran Conflict For Israel, the war with Iran has also been a massive financial strain. Here’s what Israel faces: Direct Military Costs: Israel has spent heavily on military operations, equipment, and personnel. Economic Disruption: The repeated conflict might have disrupted Israel’s economy, leading to decreased tourism, reduced business activity, and damage to infrastructure. Defence Spending: Israel already spends a significant portion of its GDP on defence. It’s important to remember that the direct military costs are just the tip of the iceberg. The war with Iran is likely to have following far-reaching economic consequences: Oil Prices: The conflict in the West Asia has disrupted oil supplies, leading to a spike in global oil prices. This would hurt consumers and businesses around the world. At the time of filing this report, the international standard, Brent Crude shot up 15% to a 20-month high of $84 per barrel. Global Economy: Increased uncertainty and instability could negatively impact the global economy, leading to slower growth and decreased trade. Humanitarian Crisis: War often leads to humanitarian crises, requiring international aid and assistance. Intercepting Iranian Missiles: A Costly Defense The cost of intercepting and neutralizing Iranian missiles is substantial: Missile Defense Systems: Systems like Iron Dome are designed to intercept incoming rockets and missiles. Each intercept costs a significant amount of money. Maintenance and Operation: Maintaining these systems and keeping them operational requires ongoing investment. Replacements: Interceptor missiles need to be replaced after use, adding to the overall cost. US using very costly air defence missiles to neutralize cheap Iranian drones: According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Iran launched around 2,000 drones at Israel in first four days of the retaliatory strikes. Citing Bloomberg report, Kashif Raza, an Indian entrepreneur and the co-founder of Bitinning, an educational platform, said that America is using air defence interceptors like Patriot PAC-3 missiles worth ₹36 crore to intercept and neutralize ₹18 lakh worth Iranian drones like Shahed.