11:39 pm - March 27, 2026
Rubio Signals Quick End to US-Iran Campaign
Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured G7 foreign ministers that the U.S. military operation against Iran will wrap up in weeks, not months. Speaking at Vaux-de-Cernay Abbey near Paris, he noted the campaign—now in its fourth week—is ahead of schedule and needs no ground troops to meet all objectives.
Rubio specified two to four more weeks of action, per Axios sources, while confirming indirect talks via intermediaries show some progress. “Intermediary countries are passing messages—it’s ongoing,” he told reporters.
Troop Surge Despite No-Boots Pledge
The Pentagon is bolstering its regional presence with 2,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division deploying under Maj. Gen. Brandon Tegtmeier. They join 5,000 Marines en route, atop 50,000 troops already stationed.
Operation Epic Fury, launched February 28, has cost 13 U.S. lives and wounded about 290. Key losses include a March 1 Iranian drone strike in Kuwait killing six, one from a Saudi attack, and six in a March 12 KC-135 crash in Iraq. U.S. strikes have hit over 10,000 targets, wiping out 92% of Iran’s major naval vessels.
Hormuz Toll Sparks G7 Tension
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard now vets ships in the Strait of Hormuz, enforcing a “de facto toll booth” with fees in yuan—two vessels have paid up. Parliament aims to codify this as law.
Rubio slammed it as unacceptable, pressing G7 allies reliant on Gulf oil to act. Traffic has plunged 90%. France’s Catherine Vautrin called the war “not ours,” while UK’s Yvette Cooper pushed diplomacy over offense.
