How much have US wars in the Middle East and Afghanistan cost?

This week, the United States’ military involvement in the Middle East grew once more after its warplanes bombed at least three of Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Seven B-2 stealth bombers, each worth about $2.1 billion, dropped at least 14 million-dollar bunker-buster bombs on Fordow and Natanz, according to a briefing from US General Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

More than 125 US aircraft, including bombers, fighters, tankers, surveillance aircraft, and support crews, all spent hundreds of millions of dollars on deployment and operation.

More than any other country in the world, including China, spends almost seven times as much on its military as Russia does, compared to the next nine combined.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the US spent $997 billion on its military in 2024, which accounts for 37% of all military expenditures worldwide.

US-led wars have a high human cost.

About 940, 000 people have died in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and other post-9/11 conflict areas as a result of US-led wars since 2001, according to an analysis from Brown University’s Watson Institute of International &amp, Public Affairs.

In addition to indirect deaths, those that result from a lack of access to food, medicine, or war-related diseases, are not included. The total death toll, including direct and indirect deaths, is estimated to be between 4.5 and 4.7 million, up from 3.6 to 3.8 million, according to estimates.

At least 30 000 US military personnel, contractors, and allies were killed in addition during that time. This includes at least 7, 052 soldiers, 8, 189 contractors, and 14, 874 allied troops.

Half a million people were killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In response to the attacks of September 11 and the removal of the Taliban from power, the Afghan war broke out on October 7, 2001. Less than two years later, on March 20, 2003, the US and its allies launched the Iraqi war in an effort to end Saddam Hussein’s alleged WMDs and oust him from power. No WMD stockpiles were ever discovered, though.

The Afghanistan conflict, which lasted almost 20 years, led to an estimated 243 000 direct deaths, including those who were killed in Pakistan’s bordering regions, marking the longest military engagement in US history. During the war, about 315, 000 people died directly in Iraq.

According to the Watson Institute, at least 558, 000 direct deaths occurred between October 2001 and August 2021.

US-led wars have an economic cost.

The US has reportedly provided $ 5.8 trillion in funding its more than 20-decade war.

This includes $ 2.1 trillion in interest payments on loans made to pay for the war, $ 1.1 trillion in loans made by Homeland Security, $ 884 billion to increase the DOD base budget, $ 465 billion for veterans’ medical care, and $ 1.2 trillion in interest payments made on loans taken out of loans to fund the war.

US military spending continues to be a source of revenue

Over the next 30 years, the US is anticipated to spend at least $2.2 trillion on obligations relating to veterans’ care in addition to the $ 5.8 trillion already spent.

Since 2001, US wars have cost the country an estimated $8 trillion.

US funding of Gaza’s genocide by Israel

According to Brown University’s Watson Institute, Israel has consistently been the largest recipient of US foreign aid, having received at least $251.2 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars since 1959. A 10-year memorandum of understanding that runs through 2028 has been a commitment by the US to give Israel $3.8 billion annually since 2016. The majority of it is designated as foreign military funding.

However, the US provided an additional $ 17.9 billion in military aid to Israel in the year following the attacks in October 2023, making that figure the highest annual total ever. This includes $ 4. 5 billion in military financing, $ 4. 5 billion for missile defense, and $ 4. 5 billion for restocking US stocks with weapons for Israel.