WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. military action against Iranian agents in Iraq is justified to protect American forces and Iraqis, President Bush said Friday.
Such actions would not, however, expand the conflict beyond Iraq's physical borders, he said.
"I made it very clear ... that our policy is going to be to protect our troops in Iraq," Bush said. It just makes sense that if somebody is trying to harm our troops or stop us from achieving our goal, or killing innocent citizens in Iraq, that we will stop them.
"Now, some are trying to say that because we're enforcing -- helping ourselves in Iraq by stopping outside influence from killing our soldier or hurting Iraqi people, that we want to expand this beyond the borders. That's a presumption that simply is not accurate."
The Washington Post had earlier reported that U.S. forces in Iraq had permission to take whatever action necessary against Iranian agents operating in Iraq.
The United States has repeatedly said intelligence has shown the presence of Iranian agents in the country and that Iran is supplying insurgents with explosive devices and other materiel.
Earlier this month U.S.-led forces detained five Iranians in northern Iraq following a raid on an Iranian government liaison office.
Bush made the comments during a photo opportunity at the White House following a meeting with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Peter Pace and Gen. David Patraeus, the new commander in Iraq.
