During today’s House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Rubio told lawmakers that the U.S. military’s Iran war operation has ended.
Responding to questions from Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., Rubio said, “Epic Fury has concluded.”
The secretary’s remarks come hours after Iranian and U.S. military forces exchanged strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, which Rubio labeled “defensive” moves.
“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 said. “Those ships will come under attack. The U.S. will respond to that attack by shooting down those drones that are trying to sink a commercial civilian vessel illegally and unlawfully.”
He added, “At that point, the Iranians will respond to that by targeting some facility in the region and retribution on occasion. In order to protect our own forces, we don’t just strike the drones, we strike the people who launch those drones. These are completely defensive in nature, and but they are happening in response to an Iranian action; if they don’t shoot at those ships, we don’t shoot, but we have to respond.”