War is never cheap, especially not last year’s war in the Middle East. Americans pay much of the economic cost of perpetuating the violence, while Israelis, Palestinians, Lebanese, and others pay with their lives in the tens of thousands.
a new research Brown University’s Cost of War Project pinpointed that cost. At least $22.76 billion from October 7, 2023 to September 30, 2024. The bulk of the funding, $17.9 billion, went to U.S. aid to the Israeli military. Both the subsidies given to Israel to purchase weapons and the replacement costs for ammunition such as artillery shells sent directly. From American stockpiles to the Israeli army.
“America can walk and chew gum at the same time, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin” told reporters “U.S. security assistance to Israel will flow in at war-like speed.”
But the US military itself also burned through expensive munitions to deal with the war’s spillover into Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.
The study considers only the direct burden on the U.S. military budget. This does not include indirect costs “such as increased U.S. security assistance to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and other countries, and costs to the civil aviation industry and U.S. consumers.” Billion dollars not even counted. us humanitarian aid To the Palestinians.
And the period of this study does not include Israel’s ongoing ground invasion of Lebanon. US military deployment attacks on the region, or Iran’s October 1 missile attack on Israeli military bases. During the latter incident, the U.S. Navy said shots were fired. ”Approximately 12 interceptors“Assuming we hit an Iranian missile, that’s the equivalent of one year of production, at a total cost of about $400 million,” said Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at the Middlebury Institute. social media.
It cost Israel and its allies $1.3 billion Retired brigadier general Reem Aminouak, who helped shoot down the last missile barrage by Iran in April 2024, said: bloomberg at that time. Immediately after the April clashes, Congress appropriated a new budget. $5.2 billion For Israel’s missile defense.
Last year, the US military burned up a year’s worth of Tomahawk cruise missiles. Soon after the war in Gaza began, Yemen’s Houthi movement declared solidarity with the Palestinian cause and began attacking international shipping. The US Navy launched an operation against the Houthis, firing 80 cruise missiles. more than purchased The first night a year ago.
“teeth [the airstrikes] Will it stop the Houthis? No, President Joe Biden told reporters at that time. “Are you planning on continuing? Yes.”
April’s aid package includes an additional $2.4 billion for U.S. military operations in the Middle East, in addition to missile defense aid. 2 aircraft carriers This is to protect Israel from Iran. (One of the carriers then I went home) But because of the day-to-day costs of operating an aircraft carrier, the study estimates that “the United States is on pace to spend at least twice the $2.4 billion already allocated for regional defense.”
The United States also bombed Iraqi militia to prevent the launch of drones — whether the target is Israel or a U.S. military base — and clashed with that militia group in Syria and Jordan.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the Biden administration is not supportive. sufficient About Israel’s war effort. “I’ve done more for Israel than anyone else,” he said. boasted on Monday, two days after supported direct attack About Iran. President Trump says if Vice President Kamala Harris is elected, “Israel will disappear within two years” warned last month.
Of course, Israel would gladly accept aid from either a Republican or Democratic administration. In December 2023, employees at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Arms Export were surprised to come across an “unusual” thank-you gift. propublica reported. The Israeli embassy sent officials a case of fine wine with a personal note.
The Brown University study added that the war was also a huge tax subsidy to American weapons manufacturers. And those manufacturers are certainly noticing. In October 2023, guardian and responsible national strategy ‘ series.unusually slow” The financial report discusses the impact of the war on shareholders.
“Hamas has created additional demand. We have this $106 billion request from the president,” investment analysts said on the arms company’s Oct. 25 conference call, referring to the Biden administration. . assistance proposal For Israel and Ukraine at the time. He asked where the company is seeing the most demand.
“Frankly, the situation in Israel is clearly dire, and it’s evolving even more as we speak,” the weapons company executive responded.. “But when you look at the potential for increased demand that comes from that, I think the biggest and really prominent place to emphasize is probably on the artillery side.”
