The cost of Iraq. The Pentagon has spent over $500 million in three months

From June 16 to August 26 the U.S has spent an average of $7.5 million in Iraq. For a grand total of roughly $ 547.5 million. The Pentagon’s press secretary revealed it, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, revealed it during a press conference on Friday morning. The operational costs varied, and they increased after the U.S. president authorized airstrikes on August 8.

So far, Kirby continued, the U.S. has conducted 110 airstrikes. The latest one near Mosul dam. “The strikes destroyed four ISIL armed vehicles, severely damaged another armed vehicle, and destroyed three ISIL support vehicles. All aircraft exited the strike areas safely.” Since August 8 Air Force has targeted 85 vehicles.

Airstrikes are working, said Kirby. Nevertheless ISIS continues fighting in Iraq. The PKK is trying to push them back towards Syria, while the Pashmerga — the Kurdish Regional Government soldiers — are also defending Erbil. Special Operation teams are on the ground as advisors and coordinating airstrikes. In the meantime the Pentagon is preparing options to fight ISIS in Syria. “It can’t just be military,” Kirby said. “There’s not going to be a military solution here to the threat that ISIL poses. It’s just not going to happen.”

The Iraq operation is being paid from the Pentagon’s war-spending budget, which included some $80 billion in 2014, mainly for the conflict in Afghanistan. Secretary Hagel explained it is well into the Pentagon budget limit and it will not need additional funding. The Defense budget is under heavy cuts, $1 trillion in over decade. But again, the cost of war might invert this trend.