ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – US Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent advocate for Kurdish rights and one of Washington's leading voices on Middle East policy, died on Saturday at the age of 71 after “a brief and sudden illness,” his office said Sunday.

“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,” his office said.

The statement provided no further details, saying only that Graham’s family “appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”

Graham emerged as one of the strongest supporters of Kurdish rights in Washington and maintained close ties with leaders of the Kurdistan Region.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani expressed his condolences over Graham’s passing, saying, “I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones, and the leadership and members of the U.S. Senate.”

“The people of Kurdistan will always remember his friendship and steadfast support,” Barzani said in a post on X.

Graham met Barzani in Washington in late February, where they discussed “challenges the Kurdistan Region faces” and “reiterated his backing for the Kurdish people's legitimate demands and rights,” according to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Most recently, his support was particularly evident after Syrian government forces launched a military campaign against Kurdish-led forces in Rojava (northeast Syria) in January. He introduced the Save the Kurds Act in the US Congress, which threatened severe sanctions on Damascus and sought to redesignate Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which had dissolved to form Syria’s interim government, as a terrorist organization.

Earlier that month, he met Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Abdi to discuss regional security and efforts to promote peace.

President Nechirvan Barzani, in a post on X, also expressed sorrow over Graham’s passing, describing him as “a valued friend of the people of Kurdistan.”

Graham also emerged as one of the leading Republican voices in Washington against the Iranian government, voicing support for anti-government protesters and calling for regime change.

He served in the US Senate from 2003 after serving four terms in the House of Representatives.

Throughout the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), Graham was among the Senate’s strongest advocates for continued US support for Kurdish forces in Iraq and Syria, arguing they were among Washington’s most reliable partners in combating the militant group.

He first visited the Kurdistan Region in 2018 and returned in 2022 with a bipartisan congressional delegation, meeting Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to discuss security cooperation, the fight against ISIS, continued US support for the Kurdistan Region, and relations between Erbil and Baghdad.