Courtesy of YNet News:

Pentagon official tells LA Times aggressive new tactics designed to deter Iranian assistance to Iraqi militants may include more forceful patrols by fighter planes along Iran-Iraq border to counter smuggling of bomb supplies from Islamic Republic; ‘For every improvised explosive device that goes off in Iraq, a bomb should go off in Iran,’ retired Air Force lieutenant general says

Yitzhak Benhorin
Published: 01.31.07, 23:25

The US Air Force is preparing for an expanded role in Iraq that could include aggressive new tactics designed to deter Iranian assistance to Iraqi militants, senior Pentagon officials were quoted by the Los Angeles Times as saying on Wednesday.

According to the LA Times report, a said the efforts could include more forceful patrols by Air Force and Navy fighter planes along the Iran-Iraq border to counter the smuggling of bomb supplies from Iran.

Such missions also could position the Air Force to strike suspected bomb suppliers inside Iraq to deter Iranian agents that US officials say are assisting Iraqi militias, outside military experts were quoted by the LA Times said.

President George W. Bush warned two weeks ago that US forces would take a harder line against Iranians in Iraq, vowing to “seek out and destroy” weapons supply networks that endanger US troops, the report said.

“Air power plays major roles, and one of those is as a deterrent, whether it be in border control, air sovereignty or something more kinetic,” the senior Pentagon official told the LA Times.

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