US declares military operation against Iran over, claims objectives met

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that Washington's military campaign against Iran, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury," has officially ended. Speaking before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rubio asserted that the United States had achieved its objectives, effectively concluding the offensive operations.

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We’re no longer conducting sustained strikes inside of Iran to degrade their military, because Epic Fury is over.

Rubio detailed the claimed successes of the operation, stating that the U.S. had destroyed Iran's defense industrial base, significantly reduced its missile and drone stockpiles, eliminated its air force, and wiped out its conventional navy. "We're no longer conducting sustained strikes inside of Iran to degrade their military, because Epic Fury is over," Rubio told lawmakers, characterizing the outcome as a "victory."

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Epic Fury is over … that operation has concluded.

However, his declaration faced scrutiny from Democratic Representative Sara Jacobs. She challenged the administration's narrative, pointing out that the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit route, remains closed and U.S. service members are still deployed in the region, raising questions about the true end of hostilities. "You can change the name of the operation, it doesn’t change the fact that the Strait’s still closed, and my service members and all of our service members are still in harm’s way," Jacobs stated.

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You can change the name of the operation, it doesn’t change the fact that the Strait’s still closed, and my service members and all of our service members are still in harm’s way.

Jacobs pressed Rubio on the definition of victory, particularly given the ongoing regional instability and the continued presence of U.S. troops. While Rubio defended the administration's metrics for success, emphasizing the degradation of Iran's military capabilities, the exchange highlighted lingering concerns among some lawmakers regarding the administration's assessment of the conflict's conclusion and its regional implications.

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We define victory as destroying their defence industrial base significantly, reduci