At a recent press briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempted to draw a distinction between “Project Freedom” and “Operation Epic Fury,” insisting that ongoing military actions do not violate a supposed ceasefire. This argument strains credibility.

Calling active military engagement “churn” or rebranding operations with new names does not alter the underlying reality: American forces are involved in sustained hostilities. If ships are being escorted through a volatile region and combat actions are taking place, then the United States is functionally engaged in conflict — regardless of how carefully officials parse their language.