The Pentagon instructed military personnel to cease referring to U.S. military activities in Iran as ‘Operation Epic Fury’ at a time when this operation was officially supposed to have concluded, according to an email obtained by CBS News.
On May 5, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the end of ‘Operation Epic Fury,’ stating a new focus on ‘Project Freedom.’ However, guidance to cease using the ‘Operation Epic Fury’ name came months later in August.
Official communication indicated that the advice was not specific to the Air Force but was intended for all branches within the Department of Defense. Despite the conclusion of the named operation, military exchanges with Iran have persisted, including intermittent ceasefires.
The timing of the Pentagon’s directive also raises issues related to the classification of service members who were killed or injured after the operation was officially over. Military personnel were advised to use the term ‘overseas operations in the [U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility]’ instead.
Legal experts note that a clear and public record of operation start and end dates is essential for tracking military involvement and understanding the categorization of military awards, as seen with past operations like ‘Operation Enduring Freedom.’
Some military officials remarked that various actions have continued under different auspices, such as Freedom of Navigation operations aimed at reducing threats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Questions about the continued classification of engagements with Iran arose after the names of soldiers killed and wounded were shifted from ‘Operation Epic Fury’ to a broader category of ‘overseas operations.’ This reclassification affected records and has been attributed by Pentagon officials to data disruptions.
As discussions around the classification continue, the details of even higher-level strategies, such as the currently unclear status of ‘Project Freedom,’ remain unresolved.
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