Rubio Declares Operation Epic Fury 'Effectively Over' — US Shifts to Defensive Posture After 67-Day Bombing Campaign

Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared on May 5, 2026 — Day 67 — that Operation Epic Fury, the ~67-day major US-Israeli bombing campaign launched on February 28, was 'effectively over.' The declaration marked a fundamental strategic shift in the US military posture: from an active offensive bombing campaign targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, military infrastructure, and leadership to a predominantly defensive posture centered on the Hormuz escort mission and the ongoing naval blockade. The cessation of offensive strike operations on Iran's territory — the largest sustained US air campaign since Gulf War 1991 — was a significant de-escalation signal even as the naval confrontation at Hormuz escalated. CENTCOM confirmed the US had struck more than 11,000 targets across Iran since February 28, including nuclear facilities, missile production plants, command centers, IRGC infrastructure, and regime leadership. Time magazine reported the announcement as a potential inflection point — but analysts cautioned the naval blockade remained fully in force and Trump had simultaneously issued new escalation threats. Rubio also called an Israel-Lebanon peace deal 'imminently achievable,' suggesting a broader diplomatic push was underway. Gen. Dan Caine, the US military's top officer, told reporters May 5 was a 'quieter' day overall and that Iran's actions had not reached the 'major combat operations' threshold.