The True Cost of Modern War: How Cheap Drones Are Changing the Game

I want us to reconsider how we measure the real cost of war. By day 12, America had spent $12 billion—and counting—on confronting Iran. Yet Iran has suffered far more losses and widespread devastation. Many take sides based on religion, but I find that view shortsighted. Before the fighting began, few believed Iran could withstand the combined weight of US and Israeli forces beyond 24 hours. Decapitating its leadership, they assumed, would trigger a quick collapse. Yet Iran has held firm. The game-changer is drones. With no navy or air force left intact, Iran has relied on low-cost drones to inflict major damage. When a drone costing a few thousand dollars can threaten a jet worth hundreds of millions, the calculus of war shifts dramatically. We in Nigeria should heed this lesson. A partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz drove fuel prices here above ₦1,300 per litre. A full shutdown would hit us even harder. Wars need not be inevitable. We must reject any first strike against a sovereign nation and champion peace above all. Rev Fr. Oluoma

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