Rubio says major military operations against Iran are over

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a press briefing in the James S. Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, May 5. UPI-Yonhap

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that major U.S. military operations against Iran are over — but he stopped short of saying the conflict cannot be restarted. Rubio told reporters at the White House that “Operation Epic Fury” — the attack the U.S. and Israel mounted on Iran on Feb. 28 — “is concluded” because its objectives were met.

Rubio said recent clashes with Iran related to U.S. efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz were “defensive in nature.”

“We’re not cheering for an additional situation to occur,” he said. “We would prefer the path of peace.” He said Iran must agree to President Donald Trump’s demands on its nuclear program and reopen the strait, a waterway vital to global oil and gas supplies.

U.S. forces pressed ahead with an effort to guide commercial ships through the strait, but so far only two vessels are known to have passed through. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. prefers a peaceful effort to guide vessels out of the Persian Gulf but is ready to act if needs change.

It is unclear what will follow . Hegseth said the ceasefire reached nearly a month ago is not over. The United Arab Emirates, a key U.S. ally, said it was defending against more Iranian strikes. A spokesman for Iran’s joint military command denied striking the UAE “in recent days.”

Clashes continue between Hezbollah and Israel

Israel’s military said late Tuesday that Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon had launched “several rockets” toward Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.

Israel’s military also says it intercepted drones and what it calls “aerial targets” launched by Hezbollah before they crossed into Israeli territory.

Hezbollah started firing at Israel shortly after the beginning of the Iran war, and Israel responded with airstrikes and launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced along the border.

Source: Korea Times News