So far, 13 U.S. military members have been killed and more than 380 wounded in the Trump war on Iran. And it’s estimated that at least 2,000 Iranians have been killed – most of them civilians. As of April 9, the U.S. has struck more than 13,000 targets in Iran – 9,000 in the first 24 days and an average of 300 to 500 every day since. And that doesn’t include the military strikes carried out by the Israelis.
The targets have included missile launch sites, Iranian naval ships, Iranian nuclear enrichment sites, military and government facilities, refineries, and oil depots, as well as at least one elementary school, numerous universities, and residential areas. So, the number of fatalities in Iran are likely much higher. And there are undoubtedly thousands of wounded.
That is the horrific human cost of this ill-conceived and unnecessary war. And the monetary costs, though replaceable, are simply astonishing.
It has been estimated that the build-up prior to the war cost $370 million and that it is costing $18 million per day to operate our two carrier groups in the Middle East. Additionally, the U.S. and Israel have each dropped 18,000 bombs on Iran at a cost to the U.S. of at least $5.8 billion in just the first two weeks. And, without congressional approval, the Trump regime gave $11 billion in military aid to Israel to replenish the munitions it used. (Of course, that’s in addition to the $21.7 billion in military aid sent to Israel since October 7, 2023.)
Other costs of the war include:
- $270 million for the three F-15s lost
- $200 million for the two C-130s lost
- $19 million for the A-10 Warthog shot down
- $300-500 million for the AWACs jet destroyed by Iran
- $237 million for the three KC-135 refueling jets lost
- $600-$900 million for the 12,000 combat sorties flown at a cost $50,000 per hour
- $195,000-$220,000 for each precision-guided bomb dropped
- $4,000 for each standard un-guided bomb dropped
- $100,000 for each JDAM missile fired
- $2.9 billion for the 850 Tomahawk missiles fired
- $3.5 million for each JASSM missile fired
- $3.5 million for each GBU-57 bunker buster bomb dropped
- $200,000-500,000 for each GBU-58 bunker buster bomb dropped
All of that is in addition to the billions that will be spent on rebuilding our military installations in the Middle East that were destroyed by Iran, or the untold millions in damages to our allies in the region. Of course, there is also the $500 billion the Trump regime hopes to add to our bloated $1 trillion military budget for next year. And, on top of all that is the unknown billions being spent on goods and services as a result of inflation caused by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz limiting the shipment of 20 percent of the world’s oil.
There’s also the disastrous effect on the environment from the carbon clouds billowing from the oil and refining facilities that have been struck.
But perhaps the biggest casualty of all is the damage to the U.S. reputation as a reliable ally and peacemaker – a champion for dignity and the rights of all our planet’s residents. That damage will last for a generation or more.