WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he is not aware of a change in policy that "allows" Iranian agents in Iraq to be captured or killed.
The Washington Post reported Friday that until last summer, U.S. troops were "catching and releasing" Iranian agents caught in Iraq but now have the authority to target any member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and intelligence services operating inside the country.
"Our forces are authorized to go after those who are trying to kill them," Gates told reporters Friday. "We are trying to uproot these networks that are planting the IEDs that are causing 70 percent of our casualties. If you are in Iraq and trying to kill our troops then you should consider yourself a target.
"It's not clear to me it is different. I'm not aware of any change ... of our forces having the authority to go after those who would kill Americans, any foreign fighter in Iraq who would kill Americans," he said.
He said the U.S. military is only targeting those inside Iraq; it does not pursue fighters into Iran
"I don't think there is any intention to cross the border," he said. "We think we can handle this inside the borders of Iraq and the operations are limited to inside Iraq ...The challenge we face in Iraq regarding Iran will be dealt with diplomatically."
