Lindsey Graham, Champion of Kurdish Cause and Sponsor of 'Save the Kurds Act,' Dies at 71

Peregraf- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the strongest congressional supporters of the Kurdish cause and a longtime advocate for closer U.S.-Kurdish ties, has died at the age of 71 after a brief illness, according to his office.

Graham, a Republican representing South Carolina since 2003, died Saturday evening, his communications director announced.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani paid tribute to Graham, describing him as "a valued friend of the people of Kurdistan."

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, a valued friend of the people of Kurdistan," Barzani wrote on X. "His advocacy and unwavering support for Kurdistan will always be remembered with gratitude. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues."

Graham was widely regarded across the Kurdistan Region as one of the U.S. Senate's most consistent supporters of Kurdish aspirations and security.

In January 2026, Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal introduced the Save the Kurds Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from attacks by Syrian government forces and their allies.

The bill proposed sanctions on Syrian government officials, financial institutions, and individuals supporting military operations against the SDF. It also sought to formally recognize the SDF's partnership with the United States in the campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS) and redesignate Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

Introducing the legislation, Graham argued that protecting Kurdish partners was both a moral obligation and a strategic necessity.

"I believe that there is strong bipartisan support for the idea of protecting the Kurds in Syria and beyond because they have been such a reliable ally to the United States," Graham said at the time.

"The SDF—with a large Kurdish element—took the brunt of the fight to defeat ISIS in President Trump's first term. Attacking the Kurds greatly diminishes the United States' standing and will hinder Syria's ability to grow as a country."

He warned that those targeting Kurdish forces should not expect to avoid consequences.

Supporters of the legislation argued that abandoning Kurdish allies would undermine regional stability and create opportunities for ISIS to re-emerge, while stressing that Kurdish forces had played the leading ground role in dismantling the group's self-declared caliphate alongside the U.S.-led coalition.

Throughout his Senate career, Graham was known for advocating a strong U.S. foreign policy and remained an influential voice on Middle East affairs, including Iraq, Syria, and Iran.