By TheHill | Source

Pentagon officials told lawmakers during a briefing on Tuesday that the approximate cost of war against Iran is more than $11.3 billion in the first six days of action, a source briefed on the figure told The Hill on Wednesday.

The figure was relayed to senators during a classified briefing on Capitol Hill, appearing to be the first thorough estimate lawmakers have received since the United States and Israel launched air strikes against Iran on Feb. 28.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to NewsNation partner The Hill’s request for comment.

The figure, which was reported earlier by The New York Times, comes as lawmakers continue to question the scope and objectives of the Iran war that has engulfed the region and as legislators continue debating the prospect of approving a supplemental defense funding package. Some Democrats have indicated in recent days that they would oppose the spending measure until more information about the ongoing war is relayed.

The first 100 hours of “Operation Epic Fury” cost about $3.7 billion, or $891.4 million each day, an estimate from national security-focused think tank The Center for Strategic and International Studies said last week.

Defense Department officials said in an estimate delivered to lawmakers on Monday that the Pentagon burned through around $5.6 billion worth of munitions during the first two days of the war with Iran, The Hill previously reported.

The U.S. military has hit over 5,500 targets inside Iran since the war broke out, according to U.S. Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper.

Cooper added Wednesday morning that the military has struck or sunk over 60 Iranian ships.

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