Israel/Iran conflict

Pentagon officials informed lawmakers that the cost of the war to date is US$25 billion (NZ$57b), with most of that being spent on munitions. Operations and equipment repairs also have contributed to the costs.

Still, that number was met with some scepticism on Capitol Hill, where US lawmakers have been expecting an eventual request for war funding from the White House to run closer to US$100 billion (NZ$230b).

There is also concern that the bombing campaign against Iran has depleted America's supply of weapons, such as crucial missile defense systems, potentially leaving the country vulnerable if conflicts break out in other areas of the globe.

Hegseth contended that the Pentagon is not in any danger of running low on munitions, yet he also blamed any challenges on President Joe Biden’s decision to assist Ukraine as well as on an aging US defence manufacturing industry.

“On the munitions front, we’re in really good shape, but we need to accelerate,” Hegseth told senators.

He presented the Pentagon’s budget request as vital to the goal of multiplying munition production rates and said he plans to bolster the industry so that it can quickly replace any munitions used in the Iran war.

The budget request would amount to a record boost to defense spending that would increase the Pentagon’s budget by over 40% from the previous year.

- AP