Israel Defense Industry Chief Predicts Another Iran War Despite Staggering US Costs

An Israeli defense industry leader warned Wednesday that another war with Iran is inevitable, raising the prospect of renewed fighting after a conflict that has already cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.

Israel is preparing for another confrontation with Tehran and must strengthen its military partnership with Washington, state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Chairman Boaz Levy said in an interview with Israel Hayom. The warning follows months of American military operations that have severely depleted critical missile inventories, according to a Nov. 10 report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

“We learned a great deal, but the Iranians learned a great deal too,” Levy said during the Israel Hayom Summit in New York on Wednesday, according to Israel Hayom.

“There will be another war, without a doubt,” Levy continued, arguing that the question is no longer “if” another confrontation will occur, but “when.”

The Iran war cost the U.S. approximately $47.1 billion through Oct. 16, according to a U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) estimate provided to lawmakers and reviewed by the Associated Press on Oct. 28.

Approximately $29 billion of that total represents the cost of replacing expended munitions, while another $11.9 billion covers military operations and roughly $6.1 billion accounts for lost equipment, CBS News reported on Oct. 27 citing the CENTCOM estimate.

The figures do not include the full cost of repairing American military installations damaged by Iranian strikes, according to the AP.

Iranian attacks damaged at least 119 buildings across 13 American military installations during the war’s opening weeks, with total base damage potentially reaching $15 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported on Oct. 30, citing military estimates and its analysis of satellite imagery.

The human cost has also continued mounting.