Pentagon burned through $5.6 billion in weapons in just 48 hours of Iran strikes

The spending estimate presented to Congress has raised concerns about the pace at which US advanced weapons are being used.

• US spent $5.6 billion on weapons in first 48 hours vs Iran
• Concerns raised about rapid use of advanced US weapons systems
• Trump warns Iran on Hormuz Strait oil shipment disruptions

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The US military expended about $5.6 billion worth of weaponry in the first 48 hours of its military operations against Iran, according to a report by the Washington Post, citing estimates presented to members of Congress.

The report said the figure has raised concerns among officials about the rapid use of some of the United States’ most advanced weapons systems, which are available only in limited quantities.

The estimate, presented to Congress on Monday and reported by the Washington Post, has triggered debate among lawmakers and officials over whether the ongoing campaign could affect US military readiness.

The discussion comes as the administration has maintained that the military operation is not significantly eroding the United States’ defence capabilities, according to the report.

The White House is expected to seek a supplemental defence budget request this week, which could amount to tens of billions of dollars, the Washington Post reported, as the US continues operations in the region.

Responding to questions from the Washington Post about the status of US stockpiles, Sean Parnell, chief spokesman for the Pentagon, said the department retains the ability to carry out operations ordered by the president.

“The Department has everything it needs to execute any mission at the time and place of the President's choosing and on any timeline,” Parnell told the newspaper.

The Washington Post reported that US and Israeli forces are expected to increasingly rely on larger inventories of laser-guided bombs as the campaign moves further inland.

Amid the ongoing conflict, US President Donald Trump warned Iran against interfering with oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint.

“If Iran does anything that stops the flow of oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America twenty times harder than they have been hit thus far,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Trump said potential US military responses would focus on what he described as “easily destroyable” locations, suggesting the scale of strikes could severely damage Iran’s ability to recover.

“Death, Fire and Fury will reign upon them,  But I hope, and pray, that it does not happen!” he wrote.

Trump said the US position is intended to safeguard international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which is used by several major economies.

“This is a gift from the United States of America to China, and all of those Nations that heavily use the Hormuz Strait,” Trump said in the same post, adding that he hoped the gesture would be appreciated.

The statements come amid continuing tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran, following the launch of US military operations against Iranian targets.

Trump suggested in a separate interview that the conflict had reached a decisive stage, according to the Washington Post.