US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told lawmakers that Washington’s military campaign against Iran, codenamed “Operation Epic Fury”, has concluded and that any subsequent American military action will be defensive in nature rather than part of an ongoing offensive operation.

Rubio made the remarks during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing when members of Congress questioned the administration’s assessment of the conflict and its aftermath.

During the hearing, Rubio announced, “We’re no longer conducting sustained strikes inside of Iran to degrade their military, because Epic Fury is over.”

According to the secretary, the United States had destroyed Iran’s defence industrial base, significantly reduced its missile launchers and drone stockpile, destroyed what remained of its air force and wiped out its conventional navy.

“Those are all gone,” Rubio said. “So, I consider that victory, and we did, too. And that was the purpose of Epic Fury.”

Read more here.