Israel spending $285 million a night on missile defense in Iran war: Report

Just the jet fuel and munitions used in the Iran campaign are estimated to cost Israel around $300 million per day, according to economists advising the government.

As it fights an increasingly expensive and unstable war with Iran, Israel is spending up to $285 million every night on missile defence alone, as per a report by The Marker, a leading Israeli financial publication.

Notably, the broader conflict with Iran is proving to be even costlier.

According to Brig. Gen. (res.) Re’em Aminach, a former senior defense official and adviser to the IDF chief of staff, cited in a Ynet News report, that Israel is currently incurring $725 million in direct military costs per day. The first 48 hours of fighting alone cost an estimated 5.5 billion shekels (about $1.45 billion), split evenly between offense and defense.

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Just the jet fuel and munitions used in the Iran campaign are estimated to cost Israel around $300 million per day, according to economists advising the government, states the report.

Since the conflict erupted early Friday, Tehran has launched approximately 400 missiles, as per Israeli intelligence. Meanwhile, Israel’s counter-offensive reportedly destroyed nearly 120 launchers, while Tel Aviv stated that the Israeli military has achieved air superiority over Tehran ahead of schedule.

The intensity of Iran’s missile attacks has since dropped.

After firing more than 150 missiles on Friday night, Iran launched only 10 on Tuesday afternoon.

Analysts, however, cited in Israeli media reports, have warned that the current pace of operations might soon become unsustainable without significant resupply or direct American intervention.

Additionally, a Washington Post report early this week highlighted that Israel’s missile interceptor supplies are running low, and without urgent replenishment, the country may only be able to maintain its current defense posture for another 10-12 days.

Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), on Wednesday, escalated the conflict further, claiming to have launched Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles in its latest retaliatory wave Operation Honest Promise 3. The IRGC also asserted that it now has “complete control over the skies of the occupied territories.”

As the war stretches into its sixth day, global markets are reacting nervously.

Oil prices surged to near five-month highs, while stock markets in Asia and the U.S. registered losses amid fears of direct U.S. military involvement. The S&P 500 fell 0.8%, while West Texas Intermediate crude rose 1.1% in Asian trading after a 4% jump the previous day.

With financial and geopolitical stakes escalating by the hour, observers warn that the conflict’s long-term economic impact could ripple far beyond the battlefield.