The State Department announced "the determination to place Consulate Basra on ordered departure". In a statement, Secretary Pompeo revealed that threats from Iranian and Iran-backed forces "have increased over the past several weeks", including "repeated incidents of indirect fire" from Iran-backed militias. Pompeo went on to say that he has "advised the government of Iran that the U.S. will hold Iran directly responsible for any harm to Americans or to our diplomatic facilities in Iraq or elsewhere and whether perpetrated by Iranian forces directly or by associated proxy militias".