The Pentagon Inspector General's first report on the war with Iran highlights the scale of the costs and damage caused during the first months of the US operation "Epic Fury". According to the official document, by June 29, the cost of the operation had reached about $ 33.4 billion, while more than $ 22.3 billion was spent on ammunition alone.
The report, which covers the period through June 30, warns that the massive use of munitions has created “strategic shortages” in US stockpiles and highlighted serious obstacles in the military industry to replace them. According to the findings, the problems relate particularly to the production of rocket engines, the supply of high-quality explosives and propellants, as well as the lack of a specialized workforce.
The document also shows that Iranian attacks damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings and structures at US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan. One of the most significant targets hit was the US naval base in Bahrain, a key logistics hub for US operations in the region. After the attacks, US Central Command was forced to shift some of its supply lines to more remote centers, including the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean.
Significant damage was also reported to U.S. diplomatic facilities. According to the report, the Iranian strikes caused an estimated $184 million in damage to U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The State Department also reported an additional $113 million in emergency response and evacuation costs for U.S. personnel, their families, and other citizens. About 9,000 U.S. citizens were evacuated from the affected areas.
The war has also taken a toll on the US air force. The report documents the damage or destruction of dozens of aircraft and up to 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones, each worth about $30 million. Seven KC-135 tanker aircraft were also damaged or destroyed, and the report includes losses of fighter jets, including F-15Es, F-35A and A-10s. In total, losses of military equipment are estimated at about $3.7 billion.
In terms of human toll, the report documents 11 members of the US forces killed in combat, while a total of 12 US personnel were killed during the period covered by the report. Another heavy loss occurred in Iraq, where a KC-135 aircraft crashed after a collision with another aircraft of the same category.
The cost of the war has risen further since the period covered by the report. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in late July that the total cost had reached $37.5 billion. The report's figure of $33.4 billion does not include future costs of repairing and rebuilding damaged bases.
The inspector general's findings contrast with previous statements by the Trump administration, which had downplayed concerns about ammunition shortages. President Donald Trump has said the United States is producing more advanced weapons than at any other time in its history. The new report, however, warns that restoring advanced weapons stockpiles to previous levels could take considerable time due to defense industry constraints.
The Pentagon report thus provides the most complete official overview to date of the financial cost, military losses, and infrastructural damage of the war with Iran, showing that the conflict has exerted great pressure not only on the American budget, but also on strategic weapons reserves and the capacity of American industry to replace them.
