Iran war costs US $45.1 bn; fatalities possibly higher than 18 reported by Pentagon

The human and material cost of America’s war with Iran is proving larger than previously disclosed, with the Pentagon telling Congress that the conflict has cost $45.1 billion so far, while a Washington Post report said the number of US military fatalities may also be higher than the Pentagon’s publicly reported tally.The Pentagon told lawmakers that the war had cost $43.6 billion as of September 3, with another $1.5 billion spent on additional fuel, according to CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The estimate does not include the cost of repairing damaged US military bases and buildings or provide a full accounting of indirect operational costs.The latest figure is higher than the Congressional Budget Office’s estimate of $38 billion through August 1.

The CBO has estimated that the war could cost the US another $2 billion to $3 billion a month for as long as fighting continues.Human toll also under scrutinySeparately, six US officials familiar with the Pentagon’s internal casualty accounting told the Washington Post that at least 22 US service members....