Secretary of State Declares End of Operation Epic Fury
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told lawmakers that Washington’s military operation against Iran has ended.
Rubio made the statement during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. Members of Congress questioned him about the scale of the conflict, the results of US military action and the administration’s next steps.
The campaign was named Operation Epic Fury. According to Rubio, the United States is no longer carrying out sustained strikes inside Iran.
“We’re no longer conducting sustained strikes inside of Iran to degrade their military, because Epic Fury is over,” Rubio told lawmakers.
His remarks marked a major shift in Washington’s public position on the conflict. Rubio said any future US military action would be defensive in nature. He said it would not be part of a continued offensive campaign.
Rubio Claims US Achieved Military Objectives
Rubio defended the operation and said the United States had achieved its main military goals.
He claimed that Iran’s defence industrial base had been destroyed. He also said Iran’s missile launch capacity had been significantly reduced.
According to Rubio, Washington’s strikes also damaged Iran’s drone stockpile and destroyed what remained of the country’s air force.
He further claimed that Iran’s conventional navy had been wiped out during the campaign.
“Those are all gone,” Rubio said. “So, I consider that victory, and we did, too. And that was the purpose of Epic Fury.”
The secretary said the operation was designed to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten US forces, regional allies and international shipping routes.
Congress Presses Administration on Aftermath
Rubio’s comments came as lawmakers continue to review the cost, consequences and legal basis of the campaign.
Several members of Congress have demanded clearer answers about the administration’s Iran policy. They have also raised concerns about the risk of further escalation in the region.
The declaration that Operation Epic Fury is over may ease some concerns about an open-ended war. However, Rubio’s statement also makes clear that the US military remains prepared to respond if American interests are targeted.
The administration is now expected to focus on deterrence, regional defence and diplomatic pressure.
Rubio’s remarks also signal that Washington wants to present the operation as a completed mission rather than an ongoing war.
For now, the US position is that the offensive phase has ended. But tensions with Iran remain high, and any new attack could quickly test Washington’s claim that future action will remain defensive.
