Representative Joe Wilson announced on X, formerly Twitter, that Iraq’s state-owned Rafidain Bank is allegedly processing payments for the Houthis, a designated terrorist organization, and urged the U.S. Treasury to impose sanctions on the bank. Wilson stated his intention to cut funding to Iraq in upcoming appropriations legislation. Wilson's statement, posted on X, cited a Fox Business report detailing the accusations against Rafidain Bank, which he described as a "state sponsor of terrorism." The alleged actions by the bank are linked to the Houthis' disruption of Red Sea commerce. The report was shared on the platform by Wilson. In his post, Wilson directly tagged the U.S. Department of the Treasury and included a link to the Fox Business article. He expressed his commitment to addressing the issue through legislative action, specifically by attempting to reduce financial allocations to Iraq. The Houthis, based in Yemen, have repeatedly targeted shipping vessels in the Red Sea, a critical global trade route, leading to significant disruptions and international concern. The United States has previously condemned these attacks and taken measures against entities supporting the group.
