### [2026-06-3](/feed/2026/06/3/index.md)

##### Middle Eastern crisis
# Amidst a continuation of strikes, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing reaffirms that Operation Epic Fury, the codename for the initial phase of U.S. military operations during the war, has concluded. 




### Sources:

1. [AFP via France 24](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260603-iran-war-is-over-rubio-says-as-strikes-continue)

### Changes:

1. Amidst a continuation of strikes, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing reaffirms that Operation Epic Fury, the codename for the initial phase of U.S. military operations during the war, has concluded.  _2026-06-04 17:40:51 (First version)_
1. Amidst a continuation of strikes, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing reaffirms that Operation Epic Fury, the codename for the initial phase of U.S. military operations during the war, has concluded.  _(Current version)_

### Related:

1. [U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a Congress testimony says that Iran has agreed to negotiate aspects of its nuclear program despite pausing peace talks and closing the Strait of Hormuz. ](/feed/2026/06/2/us-secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-in-a-congress-testimony-says-that-iran-has-agreed-to-negotiate-aspects-of-its-nuclea.md) _Context: Marco Rubio, Middle Eastern crisis, U.S. Secretary of State_
2. [A U.S. official says that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken with Lebanese president Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a effort to push for a new ceasefire in Lebanon, including an ending of Hezbollah attacks on Israel with Israel refraining from escalation in Beirut in return. ](/feed/2026/05/31/a-us-official-says-that-us-secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-has-spoken-with-lebanese-president-joseph-aoun-and-israeli.md) _Context: Marco Rubio, Middle Eastern crisis, U.S. Secretary of State_
3. [U.S. military aircraft disable The Gambia-flagged bulk carrier "Lian Star" and leave it adrift in the Gulf of Oman after it ignored warnings while attempting to reach a port in Iran. ](/feed/2026/05/30/us-military-aircraft-disable-the-gambia-flagged-bulk-carrier-lian-star-and-leave-it-adrift-in-the-gulf-of-oman-after.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, U.S. military_
4. [U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio and U.S. military leaders, including U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth, say that the ceasefire is holding despite recent attacks on the United Arab Emirates and Strait of Hormuz. ](/feed/2026/05/5/us-secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-and-us-military-leaders-including-us-defense-secretary-pete-hegseth-say-that-t.md) _Context: Marco Rubio, Middle Eastern crisis, U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. military_
5. [U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio states that Iran's position on access to the strait does not meet U.S. requirements, while U.S. president Donald Trump discusses a reported Iranian proposal on reopening the route with his national security advisers. ](/feed/2026/04/27/us-secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-states-that-iran-s-position-on-access-to-the-strait-does-not-meet-us-requirements.md) _Context: Marco Rubio, Middle Eastern crisis, U.S. Secretary of State_
6. ["The Wall Street Journal" reports that Russia is actively sharing military intelligence with Iran, including satellite images of United States military bases and locations of potential targets, as well as improved drone technology. ](/feed/2026/03/17/the-wall-street-journal-reports-that-russia-is-actively-sharing-military-intelligence-with-iran-including-satellite-i.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, U.S. military_
7. [United States president Donald Trump says that U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on military targets on Kharg Island, Iran, and warns that the U.S. may also target the island's oil infrastructure if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted. ](/feed/2026/03/13/united-states-president-donald-trump-says-that-us-forces-conducted-airstrikes-on-military-targets-on-kharg-island-ira.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, U.S. military_
8. [An Iranian ballistic missile strikes the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military base in the region. ](/feed/2026/03/4/an-iranian-ballistic-missile-strikes-the-al-udeid-air-base-in-qatar-the-largest-us-military-base-in-the-region.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, U.S. military_
9. [U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discloses that the initial U.S. attack on Iran was due to an Israeli intention to attack Iranian leadership, which would have jeopardized U.S. forces in the region. ](/feed/2026/03/3/us-secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-discloses-that-the-initial-us-attack-on-iran-was-due-to-an-israeli-intention-to-at.md) _Context: Marco Rubio, Middle Eastern crisis, U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. military_
10. [The United States designates Ecuadorian drug cartels Los Choneros and Los Lobos as terrorist organizations. U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio also says that the U.S. will support the Ecuadorian Navy by providing $6 million in drones and $13 million for general security in the fight against these gangs. ](/feed/2025/09/4/the-united-states-designates-ecuadorian-drug-cartels-los-choneros-and-los-lobos-as-terrorist-organizations-us-secreta.md) _Context: Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State_
