Operation Epic Fury began on February 28, 2026, involving U.S. military forces in the Middle East. According to a Pentagon briefing to Congress, the initial strikes of the operation (Days 1–6) cost approximately $1.88 billion per day. The largest cost driver in the early phase shifted from Tomahawk cruise missiles, which cost $3.5 million each, to JDAMs, which cost $80,000 each, after Day 4. Patriot PAC-3 and SM-3 interceptors were also used during the operation. According to militaryspend.org, sustained operations cost approximately $500 million per day, and during the ceasefire standby period beginning April 8, daily costs were under $100 million per day. Time.com reported that the first week of the war with Iran cost U.S. taxpayers upwards of $11 billion. The State Department earmarked millions of dollars for evacuating tens of thousands of Americans stranded in the Middle East when the war began. As of early April 2026, the United States had more than 56,000 troops in the war zone, including approximately 50,000 on ships, military bases, and other installations, and 4,500 Marines and 2,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne, according to hks.harvard.edu. According to wusf.org, the Iran conflict resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and more than 3,300 Iranians, with another 3,826 killed in Lebanon and nearly 60 killed in Israel. The Iran conflict would continue to affect household budgets until next year, even if it ended today, according to bluesky.