Hegseth tells Senate war on Iran has so far cost $37.5bn at hearing to request more funds

Defense secretary has asked Senate appropriations committee for nearly $88bn more to continue effortThe US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth told the Senate on Tuesday that the US-Israel war on Iran had cost $37.5bn so far, as he faced lawmakers furious over the conflict’s soaring price tag and the deaths last week of three American service members.During an appearance before the Senate appropriations committee, Hegseth, whose opening remarks were repeatedly interrupted by protesters, provided an updated account of the war’s cost – up from previous estimates – and defended the Trump administration’s roughly $88bn supplemental funding request, calling it “urgent, necessary”.