WASHINGTON, D.C. — The cost of the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ISIL) has reached $8 billion, which translates to an average of $11.8 million a day or about $354 million monthly, Pentagon figures show.
According to the data, the cost covers operations between August 8, 2014, when the mission began, and June 15 of this year (678 days of operation).
The U.S.-led anti-ISIS mission began in Iraq and expanded to Syria.
Since the start of the mission, the coalition has reconquered nearly 50 percent of the territory ISIS once held in Iraq and 20 percent in Syria, U.S. officials say.
Iraqi troops, backed by the U.S. military and Iran-backed Shiite militias, are gearing up to retake Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city and considered to be the last major ISIS stronghold in Iraq.
In Syria, U.S.-backed local forces, which primarily include Kurds, are preparing to launch an offensive to push ISIS out of its de facto capital of Raqqa.
Both operations are expected to begin soon, but no specific date has been made public.
The Pentagon reports:
As of 4:59 p.m. EST July 27, the U.S. and coalition have conducted a total of 14,093 strikes (9,411 Iraq / 4,682 Syria).
U.S. has 10,826 strikes in Iraq and Syria (6,393 Iraq / 4,433 Syria)
Rest of Coalition has 3,267 strikes in Iraq and Syria (3,018 Iraq / 249 Syria)
The countries that have participated in the strikes include:
In Iraq: (1) Australia, (2) Belgium, (3) Canada, (4) Denmark, (5) France, (6) Jordan, (7) The Netherlands, and (8) UK
In Syria: (1) Australia, (2) Bahrain, (3) Canada, (4) France, (5) Jordan, (6) The Netherlands, (7) Saudi Arabia, (8) Turkey (9) UAE and (10) UK
As of Apr. 16, U.S. and partner nation aircraft have flown an estimated 105,695 sorties in support of operations in Iraq and Syria.
The Obama administration has suggested the defeat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria is imminent. However, the group has also spread its tentacles to eight countries and regions: Libya, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sinai, Nigeria, Algeria, the Caucuses, and Afghanistan-Pakistan.
ISIS is also seeking to officially establish branches in the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Somalia, where it already has support.
FBI Director James Comey recently said that victory against the jihadist group in Iraq and Syria could fuel a “terrorist diaspora” in the U.S. and other Western countries like “never before.”
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