Iran War Comes to an End with Operation Epic Fury

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Announces End of Operation Epic Fury

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Operation Epic Fury, the US-Israel war on Iran, has concluded due to its objectives being achieved. The operation began on February 28 and prompted a regional conflict.

In a separate development, US President Donald Trump announced that the US military operation to guide stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz, Project Freedom, had been paused. This decision was reportedly made at the request of Pakistan and other countries, as well as due to “great progress” being made towards a complete agreement with Iranian representatives.

The pause in Project Freedom has sparked concerns about the potential for renewed conflict in the region. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had previously threatened to attack ships using the strait without permission from the IRGC.

According to Burcu Ozcelik, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, the pause in Operation Epic Fury and Project Freedom has created “unwelcome frenzy” in the Gulf. She noted that Iran is seeking guarantees that this pause will be a permanent solution rather than just a temporary reprieve.

The US military’s Central Command denied striking any Iranian vessels on Monday, while Iran claimed to have hit a US warship with drones. The situation remains tense, with both sides engaging in a war of words over the incident.

In a media briefing at the White House, Rubio emphasized that the US prefers “the path of peace” and is seeking a deal with Iran. However, Trump’s comments on social media suggest that the US may be prepared to escalate its actions if Iran does not meet certain conditions.

Source: Al Jazeera