Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 1h

Read the research, "Mass Displacement since October 7, 2023: Flight from War, Genocide, and Expulsion in Gaza, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and the West Bank".

costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/PostOc...

Table 1 from the report, "Mass Displacement since October 7, 2023: Flight from War, Genocide, and Expulsion in Gaza, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and the West Bank".

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 1h

Our latest reports on the post-10/7 wars include stunning new estimates on mass displacement in Gaza, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and the West Bank:

5.27 million displaced
1.8 million are children

1 1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 1d

Read Newsweek’s coverage of the report here. [END] www.newsweek.com/war-gaza-cos...

The war in Gaza cost the US over $30B—Most of it sent to Israel: Report

"In a normal year, Israel would get $3.8 billion in U.S. military aid," William Hartung told Newsweek.

www.newsweek.com

1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 1d

Costs of War director Stephanie Savell on the significance of the research. [8/9]

1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 1d

During the same period, an additional $9.65 - $12.07 billion was spent on U.S. military operations in Yemen, Iran and the wider region, writes Linda J. Bilmes. [7/9] costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/WiderM...

U.S. Spending in Post-10/7 Wars: $31 Billion and Counting

1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 1d

Between October 2023 - September 2025, the U.S. spent $21.7 billion on military aid to Israel. [6/9] costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/AidToI...

1 1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 1d

In a joint report with @quincyinst.bsky.social, William Hartung writes about how U.S. support has been essential to Israel's military operations in Gaza and throughout the region since 10/7. [5/9] costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/AidToI...

Screenshot from the report, "U.S. Military Aid and Arms Transfers to Israel, October 2023 – September 2025"

1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 1d

At least 5.27 million people have been displaced in Gaza and the wider region, including Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and the West Bank, writes David Vine. [4/9] costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/PostOc...

People Displaced by Post-October 7, 2023 Wars

1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 1d

The research underscores that the Gaza Ministry of Health numbers are “not an exaggeration,” as some critics argue; they are likely an undercount — and indirect deaths will likely exceed the number of people killed directly in the war. [3/9] costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/HumanT...

Screenshot from the report, "The Human Toll of the Gaza War:
Direct and Indirect Death from 7 October 2023 to 3 October 2025"

1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 1d

Over 10% of Gaza’s population has been killed or injured since 10/7. Approximately 80% of the deaths have been civilians, writes Costs of War co-founder Neta Crawford. [2/9] costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/HumanT...

Post-10/7 Gaza: Over 10% of Population Directly Killed or Injured

1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: The post-10/7 wars have killed or injured at least 236,505 people in Gaza alone. The U.S. has spent over $31 billion and counting in the wider region since Oct. 7, 2023, where millions have been displaced, according to new Costs of War research. [THREAD]

Photo Credit: Heidi Levine, 2025

Photo by Heidi Levine (July 30, 2025) showing an aerial view of Gaza destruction, taken during a Royal Jordanian military flight for a humanitarian aid mission.

1 15 6

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 2d

In 2019, after the Pentagon loosened the rules of engagement, airstrikes killed 700 civilians in Afghanistan – more civilians than in any other year since the beginning of the war in 2001 and 2002.

Read the research: costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/afghan...

Afghanistan’s Rising Civilian Death Toll Due to Airstrikes, 2017-2020

The United States military in 2017 chose to relax its rules of engagement for airstrikes in Afghanistan, which resulted in a massive increase in civilian casualties.

costsofwar.watson.brown.edu

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 2d

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he wants to lift restrictions on rules of engagement. Our research shows how loosening the rules of engagement in Afghanistan led to many more civilian deaths. [1/2] abcnews.go.com/Politics/pen...

Hegseth rails against 'woke,' lays out standards in speech to top generals, admirals

Trump and Hegseth were addressing an auditorium packed with several hundred of the nation’s most seasoned military commanders summoned last-minute from around the world.

abcnews.go.com

1 1 1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 5d

Read the research, "The Long-Term Costs of United States Care for Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars". costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/long-t...

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 5d

The cost of caring for U.S. veterans from the post-9/11 wars is expected to top $2,000,000,000,000 by 2050.

1 1 2

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 7d

Read the research, “The Employment Impacts of Cuts to Federal Spending: Not All Cuts Are Created Equal”.
costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/employ...

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 7d

A snapshot of how the U.S. prioritizes war: In 2024, militarized departments employed 78% of the federal workforce.

1 1 1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 8d

Our research illustrates that the post-9/11 wars did not only destroy lives; it expanded the number of militant groups. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/costs-...

1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 9d

A draft bill would allow the Trump administration to "wage war" against people deemed "terrorists", expanding the post-9/11 war playbook. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/u...

Draft Bill Would Authorize Trump to Kill People He Deems Narco-Terrorists

www.nytimes.com

2

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 12d

U.S. policies post-9/11 intensified police militarization, expanded mass surveillance, and have racially profiled Muslims and people of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Arab descent. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/costs/social...

1 1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 13d

Read the research, “Consuming War: How Pop Culture Captures Our Attention and Fuels Forever Wars”:
costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/consum...

Consuming War: How Pop Culture Captures Our Attention and Fuels Forever Wars

This cultural analysis series showcases how, every day, Americans are inundated with cultural products promoting militarism. Consuming War papers provide case-by-case introductions to the militarizati...

costsofwar.watson.brown.edu

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 13d

Over 2,500 war-themed movies and TV programs have been made with Pentagon assistance.

1 3

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 14d

Read the research, “Wartime Contract Spending in Afghanistan Since 2001”.
costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/wartim...

1 1

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 14d

Over 1/3 of the $108 billion spent on U.S. contractors in Afghanistan since 9/11 went to undisclosed recipients.

1 1 2

The Costs of War Project @costsofwar.bsky.social · 15d

This 2021 figure updates research from 2020 – read how the author calculated the initial estimate. [END] fpif.org/the-u-s-war-...

The U.S. 'War on Terror' Has Displaced 37 Million People - FPIF

Here's why we used the numbers we did -- and what they can and can't tell us.

fpif.org

1