[News] Years of US Munitions ‘Burned’ in Days of War on Iran

[Anti-Imperialist News]

palestinechronicle.com
<https://www.palestinechronicle.com/years-of-us-munitions-burned-in-days-of-war-on-iran-financial-times/>
Years of US Munitions ‘Burned’ in Days of War on Iran – Financial Times
March 13, 2026
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US forces have used large quantities of advanced missiles, including
Tomahawks, during the war on Iran. (Photo: DVIDSHUB/Wikimedia)

*By Palestine Chronicle Staff
<https://www.palestinechronicle.com/writers/palestine-chronicle-staff>*

The US military has burned through years of critical munitions during the
war with Iran, raising concerns about costs.

*Key Takeaways*

   - US forces have used large quantities of advanced missiles, including
   Tomahawks, during the war on Iran.
   - Officials say the conflict has already cost more than $11 billion in
   the first six days of strikes.
   - The Pentagon is preparing to request up to $50 billion in additional
   funding for the military.
   - Some lawmakers warn Congress should not simply provide a “blank
   cheque” for the war.
   - Critics say the cost of expensive US weapons against cheap drones
   means “the math on this doesn’t work.”

*War Burning Through US Weapons Stockpiles*

The US-Israeli military aggression on Iran is rapidly depleting key
American weapons stockpiles, according to a report
<https://www.ft.com/content/14713f6f-a1a6-4477-bd10-d3780fbc8ab5#selection-121.0-295.85>
published in the Financial Times on Friday, citing officials familiar with
the situation.

Citing three people with knowledge of the matter, the report said the Trump
administration has burned through “years” of critical munitions since the
start of the war with Iran. The rapid depletion includes advanced
long-range cruise missiles.

One person familiar with the military’s operations said the conflict has
involved “a massive expenditure of Tomahawks.”

“The navy will be feeling this expenditure for several years,” the person
reportedly said.

Tomahawk cruise missiles, which carry a 1,000-pound warhead, cost
approximately $3.6 million each and are manufactured by the US defense
company RTX.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that the US
fired 168 Tomahawks in the first 100 hours of the war that began on
February 28.

A US lawmaker said the scale of the missile use is significant.

“It’s a lot. And it will take years to replace,” the lawmaker said,
according to FT.

US KC-135 Refueling Aircraft Downed in Western Iraq; Iran Says Crew Killed
<https://www.palestinechronicle.com/us-kc-135-refueling-aircraft-downed-in-western-iraq-iran-says-crew-killed/>

*War Costs Mount as Congress Faces Funding Battle*

The US Pentagon is preparing to ask Congress for additional funding to
support the war effort. According to the report, the Defense Department is
expected to request as much as $50 billion in additional military spending.

The request could trigger a major political battle in Washington.

US Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican member of the Senate Appropriations
Committee, warned that lawmakers would demand detailed justification.

“You’ve got to be able to provide us with information, as requested,
justification,” Murkowski said, adding: “Don’t just take for granted that
the Congress’s role is basically just to write the cheque.”

The war is already proving extremely costly, according to the report.

Pentagon officials told lawmakers that the war had cost more than $11
billion in the first six days of strikes, with most of the spending going
toward munitions.

The cost disparity between US weapons and Iranian drones has also raised
concerns.

US Democratic Senator Mark Kelly said the price difference highlights a
strategic problem.

“The rounds we’re firing — Patriot rounds, Thaad rounds . . . these weapon
systems, each round is millions of dollars,” Kelly said.

Meanwhile, Iran is “firing cheap drones.” “The math on this doesn’t work,”
Kelly added.

EXPLAINER: Why Iran Is Targeting Radars, Satellites, and Air Defense Systems
<https://www.palestinechronicle.com/explainer-why-iran-is-targeting-radars-satellites-and-air-defense-systems/>

*Political Pressure Builds*

The cost of the war is becoming an increasingly contentious issue in
Washington.

According to US Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, the war is draining US
resources.

The United States is spending “many billions” on a war that is becoming
unpopular with the public, he said. “The cost of it goes up practically as
we talk,” Wyden added, describing it as “an astronomical sum.”

Some officials argue that the spending is necessary to maintain US military
strength.

Former Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell urged lawmakers to approve
the Pentagon’s request even if they oppose the war itself.

“Weakness invites challenge. (…) But our adversaries have sought to weaken
and undermine America regardless of who the commander-in-chief is,”
McConnell said.

Moreover, the White House insists the military still has sufficient
resources.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that “the US military
has more than enough munitions, ammo and weapons stockpiles to achieve the
goals of Operation Epic Fury laid out by President Trump and beyond.”

She added that the president would continue pushing defense companies to
expand production.

“President Trump has always been intensely focused on strengthening our
armed forces and he will continue to call on defence contractors to more
speedily build American-made weapons, which are the best in the world.”

However, concerns remain about the strain on US weapons stockpiles.

Senator Murkowski said the rate of ammunition consumption raises serious
questions. “With the level of inventory that (US aggression on Iran is)
going through on a daily basis, I think we all have reason to ask good
questions about how we are doing on munitions,” she reportedly said.

*(PC, Financial Times)*
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