“Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation. We are now on to Project Freedom — this is not an offensive operation. There's no shooting unless we're shot at first. But I'll be honest with you, it's not going to solve the whole straits problem.
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Iran Attacks UAE Amid Ceasefire as Rubio Declares Operation Epic Fury Over
May 5, 2026
On May 4-5, 2026, Iran launched missiles and drones at the UAE's Fujairah oil port — the first Iranian attack on a US Gulf ally since the April 7 ceasefire — while the US Navy sank seven small Iranian military boats in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes injured three Indian nationals and sparked international condemnation. Despite the attacks, the Trump administration insisted the ceasefire remained intact. Defense Secretary Hegseth said the ceasefire was "not over," and Trump warned Iran it would be "blown off the face of the earth" if it targeted US ships escorting commercial vessels through the strait under Operation Project Freedom. On May 5, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Operation Epic Fury — the 66-day US-Israel offensive bombing campaign against Iran — had officially concluded. The US was now operating in a defensive posture only. Rubio acknowledged that Project Freedom, the effort to escort commercial ships through the strait, would not "solve the whole straits problem": only two ships had successfully transited under US protection since the operation began, compared to roughly 130 per day before the war. Trump separately paused Project Freedom, citing progress toward a deal.
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“The ceasefire is not over. Iran's attacks on shipping and the UAE are completely illegal, completely illegitimate and completely unacceptable — but they do not constitute a termination of the ceasefire between US forces and Iran.
“Any country or person that attacks our Great Military, or the ships of the United States or its Allies protecting shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, will be blown off the face of the earth.