$5.6 billion in 48 hours. The gigantic costs of the American campaign against Iran

The US army used ammunition worth USD 5.6 billion in the first two days of the war with Iran, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing three American officials. According to the newspaper, many members of Congress are said to be concerned about the rate of use of precision munitions.

“WP” reported that the Donald Trump administration will submit to Congress this week a request to adopt an additional defense budget in order to continue military operations in the Middle East.

In response to the daily's question about the status of ammunition resources, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that the U.S. Ministry of Defense “has all the resources needed to carry out any mission the president orders, at any time.”

The newspaper recalled that already in the first week of the operation, US Minister of War Pete Hegseth and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, informed journalists that US forces will begin to use mainly laser-guided weapons, moving away from more modern precision ammunition. Then the general also assured that the US had enough ammunition – both offensive and defensive – to achieve its goals.

An expert from the Center for Strategic and International Studies Mark Cancian estimated that this change will significantly reduce the costs of attacks. Launching a satellite-guided missile can cost up to several million dollars, and older laser guidance technology costs around $100,000. dollars.

CENTCOM reported that more than 5,000 people were attacked in Iran. purposes using over 2,000 pieces of ammunition.

The Washington Post noted that the US was strengthening its forces in the Middle East by moving troops from other places. For example, part of the high-altitude anti-ballistic missile defense system (THAAD) is being transferred from South Korea to the Middle East. (PAP)

awm/mal/