The United States has spent more than $11.3 billion prosecuting the ongoing military campaign dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” within the first six days of its war against Iran, a development that is believed to have pushed President Donald Trump into a state of strategic quandary the war as Advisers root for any possible exit plan.
Trump is reportedly facing mounting pressure from advisers and lawmakers over the direction of the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, as questions grow about Washington’s long-term strategy and possible exit plan from the war.
The Daily Crucible gathered that reports by major international media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, indicate that some White House advisers have privately urged the president to identify an “exit ramp” from the conflict amid concerns that a prolonged military campaign could trigger domestic political backlash and strain American military resources.
According to the reports, aides have suggested that the administration frame the conflict as having already achieved key objectives, such as weakening Iran’s missile capabilities and limiting its regional military operations, thereby allowing Washington to scale down hostilities without appearing to retreat.
However, analysts say the administration has yet to clearly define what would constitute victory in the war. While Trump has publicly claimed the United States is gaining the upper hand, he has at times also demanded “unconditional surrender” from Tehran, a stance experts say could complicate diplomatic efforts to bring the fighting to an end.
Intelligence assessments cited in recent reports further suggest that despite sustained military strikes, Iran’s government remains stable, raising doubts about the feasibility of forcing major political change in Tehran and deepening the strategic dilemma facing the Trump administration over how and when the conflict should end.
According to a report by The New York Times, American lawmakers were briefed on the development during a Pentagon session, which highlighted the rapid pace at which the conflict is consuming U.S. military resources.
Beyond the massive material and financial resources being expended, the conflict — now in its 13th day — has also resulted in casualties. No fewer than seven U.S. soldiers, including a female service member, have reportedly been killed, particularly in Kuwait, where an American facility came under Iranian missile attacks.
On the financial implications, The New York Times, citing unnamed sources familiar with Tuesday’s closed-door briefing, reported that members of the U.S. Congress were told the $11 billion figure does not include several costs incurred during the military buildup prior to the strikes, suggesting that the total expenditure for the first week could rise significantly.
Defence officials had earlier informed Congress that about $5.6 billion worth of munitions were expended within the first two days of the fighting alone, according to U.S. media reports — a burn rate far higher than previously disclosed public estimates.
Meanwhile, the Washington-based think tank, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), estimated that the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury cost approximately $3.7 billion, translating to more than $891 million per day.
According to the CSIS assessment, about $3.5 billion of the spending had not been previously budgeted.
Real-time estimates from the Iran War Cost Tracker website suggest the cost of the conflict may be even higher. As of 08:00 GMT on Thursday, the platform indicated that total U.S. spending on the war had already exceeded $17 billion.
The tracker also estimates that Washington is currently spending roughly $1 billion daily on the war effort.
However, the website cautioned that the actual financial burden of the conflict could be significantly higher, as the calculations do not include long-term expenses such as healthcare and benefits for military veterans.
