When Refusal Doesnโt Matter: Operation Epic Fury and the Erosion of Host Nation Consent
When the U.S. military launched its war against Iran in Feb. 2026, it did not just dismantle Iranian military capabilities. It shattered the illusion that the United States would consult with its closest allies and that an allyโs refusal to grant base access can stop an American war in motion. Rather than the much discussed โoutward flowsโ of military assets from the Korean Peninsula to the Middle East, it is the anticipated โinward flowsโ of U.S. military assets that could be more consequential in times of crisis.Focusing on the early days of the fallout of this intervention, I argue that The post When Refusal Doesnโt Matter: Operation Epic Fury and the Erosion of Host Nation Consent appeared first on War on the Rocks.