U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman “discussed [27 December] Kataeb Hizbollah strikes on Coalition Forces in Kirkuk… as well as the U.S.’ defensive strikes [on 29 December] in Iraq and Syria”. They “agreed that the Iranian regime and its proxies continue to be a destabilising force in the region and that nations have a right to defend themselves in the face of these threats”. According to the U.S. readout of the call, Pompeo “underscored that attacks by the Iranian regime, or their proxies of any identity, that harm Americans, our allies or our interests will be answered with a decisive response”, and both sides “agreed to continue to work together to continue countering Iran’s malign behaviour”.