The war with Iran has cost the United States an estimated $37.5billion (£28billion), according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who has urged Congress to approve an additional $87billion (£65billion) in emergency Pentagon funding as the Middle East conflict continues.
Appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday, Mr Hegseth said the conflict had become increasingly expensive, with costs climbing nearly $8billion (£6billion) since the Pentagon's last estimate in May.
Of the request for funding to near triple, $67billion (£50billion) would be allocated directly to military operations in the Middle East, while the remainder would support "broader defence priorities".
"We live in a dangerous world," Mr Hegseth told lawmakers, arguing the funding was essential to sustain military operations, replenish weapons and equipment, and ensure service members continued to receive pay.
He warned failure to approve the package would force cuts to military training and readiness at a time of heightened global tensions.
The hearing, Mr Hegseth's first appearance on Capitol Hill since fighting with the Islamic Republic resumed last week, was repeatedly interrupted by anti-war protesters and concluded with a heated exchange between the War Secretary and Democratic Senator Gary Peters.
Mr Peters accused the Trump administration of creating another "forever war", prompting Mr Hegseth to respond "shame on you" while accusing the senator of suffering from "Trump derangement syndrome".
The renewed conflict follows the collapse of a ceasefire agreed between Washington and Tehran in April.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has urged Congress to approve an additional $87billion in emergency Pentagon funding
| GETTYThe US has now carried out 11 consecutive days of strikes against Iranian targets, while Iran has responded with attacks on US forces and allies across the region.
Several American service members were confirmed killed in recent operations.
On Tuesday, officials announced the deaths of Sgt Michael Emmanuel Swinton in Iraq and Sgt Angel Rampersad in Jordan.
Earlier this week, the military also identified Pfc Isabella Gonzales and 1st Lt Tyler Feehan as having been killed in Jordan.
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President Donald Trump is expected to attend the dignified transfer of the fallen soldiers at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday.
While Mr Hegseth defended the funding request as a "generational investment" designed to maintain US military superiority, Democratic lawmakers questioned both the cost and the administration's strategy in light of the conflict's escalation.
Senator Patty Murray said the proposal "does not make a lot of sense", while Senator Kirsten Gillibrand accused the administration of seeking "unlimited money for bombs" while many Americans struggled with rising living costs.
Iran and the US have exchanged strikes throughout the month, despite brokering a deal to end the conflict
| US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSEQuestions also emerged over whether the Pentagon's estimate fully reflects the financial burden of the conflict amid an impending attack on Pickaxe Mountain.
Sources familiar with the matter suggested the true cost could be significantly higher, arguing the published figure excludes expenses such as rebuilding damaged US military facilities.
Democrats remain largely opposed, while some Republican lawmakers are demanding spending cuts elsewhere to offset the additional defence costs.
With the House of Representatives set to recess this week and Congress not expected to reconvene fully until September, any vote on the emergency funding is likely to be delayed for several months.