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US Senator Joe Wilson has accused the Iraqi federal government of using American taxpayer money to finance Iran-aligned militias, threatening to push for a halt in US aid to Iraq if attacks on the Kurdistan Region continue.

Wilson blamed Baghdad for supporting these groups following recent drone strikes targeting several oil fields and strategic sites in Iraqi Kurdistan.

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His warning is more than a passing statement; it reflects deep American concerns about Iraq’s stability, the safety of US interests, and the need to pressure the Iraqi government to act decisively against actors undermining national security and economic infrastructure.

In July alone, over 17 drone attacks have struck oil fields, strategic locations, and US interests in the Kurdistan Region, reducing oil production capacity. American officials stated that the strikes aim to “destabilize Kurdistan, damage its infrastructure, and weaken its economic capacity.”

As a member of Congress, Wilson plays a key role in approving budgets and shaping foreign policy. His remarks suggest a broader congressional push to reconsider aid to Iraq if security concerns are not addressed.

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On Tuesday, Wilson posted on the platform X that he had discussed the situation in Iraq and Kurdistan by phone with a senior official from the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Department of Foreign Relations.

“Iranian-backed militias have launched further drones against our dear friends in the Kurdistan Government,” he wrote. “Tragically, US taxpayer dollars are funding Baghdad, which in turn funds terrorist militias attacking the region and American forces, while cooperating with the head of the snake—Iran—to destabilize Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen.”

He continued: “This can no longer be tolerated. I will work to end funding to Iraq as long as it supports these terrorist militias, and to require that they be designated as terrorist organizations.”

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Iraq currently receives American assistance across security, economic, and development sectors. The threat to withdraw this support is a powerful tool to pressure Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s government to take concrete action.

While Wilson’s comments may be seen as interference in Iraqi internal affairs, they also highlight growing US frustration with Iraq’s inability—or unwillingness—to assert full sovereignty and curb Iranian influence.

Kurdistan remains a close US ally within Iraq, and the support shown amid these attacks signals Washington’s ongoing commitment to the stability of the semi-autonomous region.

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Though the attacks target oil fields, they are part of a broader pattern that threatens Iraq’s overall stability and could place US forces at greater risk.

Several American and international oil companies operate in Kurdistan. Strikes on these facilities directly endanger US economic interests and global energy flows.

The threat to cut funding also reflects mounting US frustration with Baghdad’s failure to rein in Iran-linked factions—or possible complicity—as well as concern over a draft law regarding the Popular Mobilization Forces, which could further entrench Iranian influence and undermine Iraqi sovereignty.

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