New US Strikes on Iran Would be "Operation Sledgehammer"

The Pentagon is considering renaming renewed US combat operations against Iran “Operation Sledgehammer” if the current ceasefire collapses and President Donald Trump orders strikes to resume, NBC News reported Tuesday, citing two US officials.

The name is one of several being considered, according to the report. A White House official familiar with the discussions said any new round of active combat against Iran would be conducted under a new operation name.

The shift would distinguish renewed strikes from Operation Epic Fury, the US-Israeli campaign launched on February 28. NBC reported that a new name could also carry legal and political significance, allowing the administration to argue that any renewed campaign is separate from Epic Fury and therefore does not require congressional approval under the 1973 War Powers Resolution based on the original operation’s timeline.

The Trump administration has already argued that the 60-day threshold under the War Powers Resolution has not been reached because active combat operations in Operation Epic Fury ended after 40 days, when the ceasefire was announced. Critics in Congress have disputed that reasoning, especially as the US continues to enforce a blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz crisis remains unresolved.

US officials told NBC that the American military is now in a stronger regional position than it was when Epic Fury began.

“We are in a better spot now than on February 27. We have more firepower and capability,” one official said.

US Central Command continues to enforce the blockade around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, where US and Iranian forces have repeatedly exchanged fire. The US has described the current posture as defensive, while Iran has continued to block the strait and threaten shipping.

Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Operation Epic Fury had ended and that Washington had moved from offensive operations to defensive action tied to the blockade.

“Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation,” Rubio told reporters. He said the offensive stage of the war was over and that US forces would respond only if attacked.

“We are only responding if attacked first,” Rubio said. “If no shots are fired at these ships and no shots are fired at us, we’re not firing shots, but if we’re fired on, we will respond.”

The reported planning comes as Trump weighs whether to resume strikes after rejecting Iran’s latest proposal and warning that the ceasefire is on “massive life support.”