The cost of fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has been pegged at $8 million a day, according to the Department of Defense.

That comes out to more than $300,000 an hour, mostly for the ongoing air operation targeting ISIS positions in the four-month-old campaign.

The daily cost announced by the Pentagon does not include money spent from mid-June to August 8, before the air strikes began. The military spent just under $400 million in less than two months then, according to Defense News.

Recently, President Barack Obama asked Congress for an additional $5.6 billion to combat ISIS. Defense News reported that most of this money will be used to train and equip Iraqi and Kurdish militaries, continue U.S. airstrikes and other air operations, and move troops and supplies through the region.

The total number of American troops authorized for the campaign is now 3,100. At first, 1,600 “advisers” were sent to help Iraq’s military, with another 1,500 now on the way.

Of course, some might think the bill for fighting ISIS is cheap, at least if it’s compared to the war in Afghanistan. The daily tab there is $200 million.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

$300,000 an Hour: The Cost of Fighting ISIS (by Uri Friedman, The Atlantic)

White House Details New $5.6B War Request, Billions for O&M (by Paul McLeary, Defense News)

Both Sides Using U.S.-Made Weapons in Iraq War (by Steve Straehley, AllGov)

Violence in Iraq Means Profits for Beechcraft, Lockheed, Raytheon and other Weapons Makers (by Steve Straehley, AllGov)