Operation Epic Fury: $18B Cost, 175 Lives Lost

0:00Here's more Sydney news for March 19th. The U.S. and Israeli assault on Iran has racked up huge costs just days in. Analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies peg the bill at $12.7 billion by day six. Now, a week later, it's likely topped $18 billion with expenses climbing fast. Earlier this week, on 28 February, at 1.15 a.m., Operation Epic Fury launched with pricey long-range missiles and interceptors. The Pentagon told Congress the munitions' tab alone hit $11.3 billion in those opening days that covers over 300 Tomahawk missiles, costing $1.2 billion, plus strikes on more than $2,500 targets at $5.5 billion total. Iran's retaliation of 2,500 drones and missiles forced $5.7 billion in air defenses like KHAAA systems. The human toll hits hard too, including a strike on an elementary school that killed 175

1:03people. Meanwhile, those funds could have covered salaries for hundreds of thousands of teachers, nurses, or firefighters nationwide. Costs keep mounting by about $1.5 billion a day, according to experts. Officials at the White House and Pentagon have not shared their own tallies yet, leaving analysts to fill in the gaps from budget docs and briefings. A message from our sponsor supports today's story. Your pillow just got smarter. It plays your podcast and music at solypillow.com.