The US Navy’s Expenditure in the Middle East Approaches $1 Billion

Hostilities in the Middle East began with Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, leading to the U.S. Navy spending close to $1 billion on operations in the region. This included defending against drone and missile attacks from Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro spoke to the Senate Appropriations Committee, praising the performance of U.S. sailors and requesting additional funding to replenish expended munitions, as reported by The Hill.

Del Toro emphasized the need for a supplemental funding bill to pass quickly, stating, “We are now closely approaching a billion dollars in expenditures of munitions.” He highlighted the use of costly ballistic missile defense munitions like the Raytheon-manufactured Standard Missile 2s and Standard Missile 6s, each costing more than $2 million.

Despite the high costs, the Houthis have mocked the U.S. for spending millions to defend against their $10,000 drones. The Houthis have targeted U.S. military and commercial ships in the region, with attacks initially linked to the conflict between Hamas and Israel but later becoming indiscriminate.

In February, the Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill, which includes funding for allies like Ukraine and Israel. However, the House has delayed the bill due to insufficient funding for U.S. border security.