ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US Congressman Joe Wilson on Tuesday announced a renewed effort to block American funding to Iraq, accusing Baghdad of financially supporting “terrorist militias” aligned with Iran - groups he claims are behind recent drone attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region.
In a statement on X, Wilson said, “I will work toward PROHIBITION on funding to Iraq while it funds these terrorist militias” which “launch more drones today against our appreciated friends in the [Kurdistan Regional Government] KRG, as well as U.S. troops, and work with the head of the snake Iran to destabilize Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.
“This cannot be tolerated anymore,” he charged, pledging to push for the “rightful designation” of these groups “as TERRORIST organizations.”
The Kurdistan Region has endured nearly 20 drone and rocket attacks in recent weeks, including on its energy infrastructure. The latest occurred on Monday, when an explosive-laden drone crashed in Erbil’s western Khabat district. No casualties were reported, according to Kurdish counterterrorism forces.
The drone strikes have repeatedly targeted oil fields in the Kurdistan Region, prompting production suspensions and causing significant damage to Erbil’s oil sector - already weakened by the ongoing closure of the Iraq-Turkey pipeline since March 2023.
The KRG’s interior ministry previously blamed the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) - an umbrella group of Iran-aligned Iraqi armed groups - for the attacks. However, the Iraqi government in Baghdad has dismissed the claims as “unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, International actors, including the United States, United Kingdom, and the United Nations, have strongly condemned the drone strikes on the Kurdistan Region.
In an interview published Monday by the Associated Press, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani condemned the drone attacks on the Kurdistan Region as “terrorist” acts. He said his government is working closely with the KRG and the US-led Global Coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) to identify and hold those responsible accountable.
Also on Monday, Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji visited Erbil and met with senior Kurdish officials. He told Rudaw that a recently-formed joint committee between Erbil and Baghdad is investigating the attacks but has not yet completed its work.
"The joint technical committees are continuing their work to gather all evidence and facts regarding the attacks,” Araji said, adding that “once their work is complete, all members of the joint committee will present their recommendations” to Sudani.
