USCENTCOM
- The US has expanded its military presence in the Middle East since Hamas' terror attacks in October.
- But this has cost about $1.6 billion, two US officials told Politico.
- It can't pay the bill right now without extra funding from Congress, the sources said.
The US military presence in the Middle East since Hamas' terror attacks on October 7, 2023, has cost the Pentagon $1.6 billion, Politico reported, citing two US officials.
The Pentagon made the estimate based on the cost of sending more warships, fighter jets, and equipment to the region and maintaining them there for four months, the sources told the outlet.
The estimate excludes the cost of missiles deployed by the US Navy to hit Houthi locations in Yemen or down drones and missiles in the Red Sea, the sources said.
The Pentagon also estimates that the bill could increase to $2.2 billion over the course of a full year, Politico reported.
However, the Defense Department can't pay the $1.6 billion bill right now without extra funding from Congress, the sources told the outlet.
"It will be, I think, a hole that we would want to be filled," one source said.
On December 6, Republicans voted down an emergency security package, which would have included $14 billion in aid to Israel.
Republicans in the House and the Senate demanded stricter measures at the US-Mexico border in exchange for additional funding for Ukraine, which is currently paired with Israel funding.
Since then, additional aid to Israel has been stuck in monthslong talks that would tie President Joe Biden's request for Ukraine and Israel aid with stricter immigration enforcement.
Since Hamas' terror attacks on Israel, the US has sent munitions as well as aircraft carriers and destroyers to the region.
These include the USS Gerald R. Ford, the USS Normandy, the USS Thomas Hudner, the USS Ramage, the US Navy destroyer USS Carney, and the USS Roosevelt.
The US has also sent several F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter jets.
The US has sent $130 billion in military and economic aid to Israel since its founding 75 years ago, according to the State Department.