WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is considering officially renaming the war with Iran “Operation Sledgehammer” if the current ceasefire collapses and President Donald Trump decidesto re-start major combat operations, according to two U.S. officials.
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The discussions about possibly replacing “Operation Epic Fury” with “Operation Sledgehammer” underscore how seriously the administration is considering resuming the war started on Feb. 28, and could allow Trump to argue that it restartsthe 60-day clock that requires congressional authorizationfor war.
The Trump administration declared an end to Operation Epic Fury after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in early April to pursue diplomatic negotiations. At the time, the administration informed Congress that hostilities with Iran had terminated. But the Pentagon has continued to describe the conflict with Iran as Operation Epic Fury, including when providing public updates. One Pentagon official said that Epic Fury continues and that the ceasefire simply has paused major combat operations.
A spokesperson for the Pentagon directed inquires to the White House. The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Any new military combat operations against Iran would be conducted under a new name and operation, a White House official familiar with the discussions said, and from the administration’s point of view this would effectively restart the clock with Congress. Operation Sledgehammer is not the only name under consideration, according to the U.S. officials.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters last week thatOperation Epic Fury “is over.”
“The president notified Congress, we’re done with that stage of it,” Rubio said during a White House briefing. “Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation.”
The 1973 War Powers Resolution requires the president notify Congress within 48 hours of starting combat; if not, troops must either be withdrawn within 60 days or Congress must authorize the military action. Epic Fury’s offensive combat operations were paused after 40 days of fighting. The Trump administration has argued that, given the pause, it has not reached the 60-day threshold.
The U.S. and Iran have exchanged fire in recent daysas Iran has halted ship passage in the Strait of Hormuz and Trump continues a blockade. Trump is still considering various options for reopening the strait and breaking the stalemate as he expresses deep skepticism that diplomatic talks with Iran will succeed, one of the U.S. officials said, adding that the president has not ordered the U.S. military to restart major combat operations.
Source: Drudge Report
