ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - A bipartisan legislative proposal entitled the Save the Kurds Act has been introduced to the US legislature on Thursday in response to the Syrian government's military campaign in Rojava, entailing provisions that would sanction Damascus officials, redesignate Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a terrorist organization, and recognize the central role of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in defeating the Islamic State (ISIS).

Introduced by US Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, a Republican and a Democrat respectively, the Act comes "in response to the Syrian government forces’ repeated attacks" on the SDF and would "impose sanctions on Syrian government officials and financial institutions, and foreign individuals who engage in any transaction, including military or financial support, with the Syrian government," according to a press release from Graham's media office.

Damascus has launched a brutal offensive against Rojava in a bid to secure Sharaa’s vision of a united, centralized Syria, despite the country’s marginalized minorities repeatedly calling for federalism. 

The assault has left hundreds dead and forced Kurdish-led forces, who defeated the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria, to cede swathes of territory and withdraw to Hasaka province, with the attacking Syrian forces violating ceasefires, committing human rights violations, and possibly war crimes in their offensive.

"The repeated attacks on the Kurds not only threatens the stability of the region, but also the safety of U.S. troops, and the U.S. relationship with the new Syrian government. It also risks the resurgence of the Islamic State [ISIS]. It is crucial to US national security that its allies and partners are protected when threatened, and that ISIS is not allowed to regenerate," the statement continued.

According to the statement, the Act:

"Imposes sanctions on Syrian government officials and financial institutions, and any foreign individual who engages in any transaction, including military or financial support, with the Syrian government.

Recognizes the Kurdish-led SDF for their contributions in working with the U.S. to eliminate ISIS

Redesignates Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)

Requires congressional review for the removal of Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism

Gives the president the authority to suspend sanctions upon certifying to Congress that the Syrian government has ceased all attacks on the Kurdish-led SDF and their partners

Contains a snapback measure, requiring the president to immediately reimpose all sanctions if the Syrian government restarts all attacks on the Kurdish-led SDF or their partners"

The bipartisan proposal must now make its way through the US legislative system for any of its provisions to be effected.

"Attacking the Kurds greatly diminishes the United States’ standing and will hinder Syria’s ability to grow as a country," US Senator Lindsey Graham wrote on X. "To those countries or groups who believe it is open season on the Kurds in Syria without consequence, you will be sadly mistaken."

The US lifted sanctions on Syria in 2025 in order to give the country what US President Donald Trump called "a chance at greatness," with the president receiving his Syrian counterpart in the White House in November.

However, a contingent of US lawmakers have balked at the Syrian government's offensive in Rojava, with Graham having emerged as a salient defender of the Kurdish-led administration, often citing its key role in defeating ISIS alongside American forces.