U.S. May Resume Strikes on Iran? Operation Name Under Review, from 'Epic Fury' to 'Sledgehammer'

\r\n[Financial News] The U.S. government is considering changing the code name of a military operation from 'Operation Epic Fury' to 'Sledgehammer' if it breaks the ceasefire with Iran and resumes the war.
According to NBC on the 12th (local time), a White House official said, "If military operations against Iran resume, they will be carried out under a new name."
One of the names now under discussion is 'Sledgehammer,' which means a large hammer. Several other operation names are also being reviewed. Last June, the Trump administration named its strike on Iran's nuclear facilities 'Operation Midnight Hammer.'
Two U.S. government officials said the current number of troops and assets stationed in the region is larger than it was when Operation Epic Fury began in February. One official stressed, "We are in a better position than we were on February 27," adding, "We have greater firepower and capabilities."
Earlier, Pete Hegseth, United States Secretary of Defense, also said publicly that the U.S. military had deployed an additional carrier strike group and rotated and reconstituted some forces that had been in place for two months.
\r\n\r\nThe review of a new U.S. operation name is a follow-up step after declaring that Operation Epic Fury had ended. Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State, said on the 5th that the military operation against Iran, Operation Epic Fury, had achieved its objectives and was over.
Under the War Powers Act, enacted in 1973, the U.S. president must notify Congress within 48 hours after combat begins. If Congress is not informed, U.S. forces must withdraw within 60 days or obtain congressional approval for military action.
The Trump administration says Operation Epic Fury was halted after 40 days of fighting, arguing that there is no issue because the war ended within 60 days.
If military action against Iran restarts under a new operation name, Trump would be able to argue that the clock on the war has been reset. It appears to be an attempt to bypass Congress's 60-day limit once again.
NBC said the review of the new operation name "shows how seriously the Trump administration is considering resuming the war against Iran."
whywani@fnnews.com Hong Chaewan Reporter