Rubio drops Iran war bombshell on Congress only for Democrat to fire back: 'We all know'

WASHINGTON, DC: The Trump administration is drawing a distinction between its recently completed military campaign against Iran and the clashes that continue to unfold across the Middle East.

Testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, June 3, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Operation Epic Fury has officially ended, even as US forces remain engaged in military actions tied to ongoing threats in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

His remarks came amid growing questions over whether Washington is truly moving away from a wider conflict.

Marco Rubio claims Operation Epic Fury is over

The most significant moment of Rubio’s testimony came during an exchange with lawmakers when he was asked about the status of the military operation that placed the United States at the center of the Iran conflict.

“Epic Fury has concluded,” Rubio told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, delivering what amounted to the administration’s clearest declaration yet that the campaign itself is over.

The statement immediately raised questions because reports of military exchanges involving US and Iranian-linked forces have continued to emerge in recent days.

Rubio acknowledged those incidents but insisted they should not be viewed as part of the same operation. According to the secretary, current US military actions are reactive rather than offensive.

“What you’re seeing reports of, including last night, is the following: A ship will go through the route, particularly both the northern and southern route of Hormuz,” Rubio explained.

He said commercial vessels continue to face threats while traveling through one of the world's most strategically important waterways.

“Those ships will come under attack,” Rubio said. “The US will respond to that attack by shooting down those drones that are trying to sink a commercial civilian vessel illegally and unlawfully.”

Marco Rubio describes persisting Iran threats

Rubio described a cycle in which Iranian-backed forces target maritime traffic, American forces intercept the threats, and further retaliation follows.

“At that point, the Iranians will respond to that by targeting some facility in the region,” he said. The administration, he argued, has expanded its responses beyond simply neutralizing incoming threats.

“In order to protect our own forces, we don’t just strike the drones; we strike the people who launch those drones,” Rubio told lawmakers.

Still, he maintained that such actions should not be interpreted as a continuation of the broader war effort.

“These are completely defensive in nature,” Rubio said. “If they don’t shoot at those ships, we don’t shoot, but we have to respond.”

His testimony appeared designed to reassure lawmakers that Washington is not actively seeking a new military escalation, even if armed confrontations continue to occur.

War debate persists during hearing

Not everyone on the committee appeared convinced by the administration’s characterization of the situation.

During the hearing, Democratic lawmakers pressed Rubio on the human and economic costs of the conflict, arguing that the fighting has not truly ended simply because one military operation has concluded.

Rep Sara Jacobs challenged Rubio's repeated claims that Iran is emerging from the conflict in a weakened position.

Rubio responded by painting a bleak picture of conditions inside the Islamic Republic, arguing that the regime is suffering from internal fractures, severe economic turmoil and extensive damage to its military infrastructure.

“The regime is actually deeply fractured,” Rubio said, adding that Iran is facing hyperinflation, a collapsing currency and an economy that is “worse, not better” than before the conflict.

Jacobs pushed back, arguing that Americans are also feeling the consequences. “We are having inflation. It's already cost us an estimated $100 billion, gas prices are up with no end in sight,” she told the secretary.

She also challenged the administration's suggestion that the conflict has entered a stable phase. “The American people are not stupid, Mr Secretary,” Jacobs said. “We all know that this war is not over.”