U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, in his latest statement, praised recent U.S. airstrikes against ISIS targets in northeastern Syria but said these actions are not enough. He emphasized that the roughly 50,000 ISIS prisoners held by Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria must not be released.
Senator Graham stated that the Kurdish forces, who played a key role in defeating ISIS under U.S. leadership, must be protected from threats posed by Turkey or radical groups that now control parts of Syria. He acknowledged Turkey’s legitimate security concerns but warned that any conflict between Turkey and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) or Turkish military action against the Kurdish forces would set the stage for an ISIS jailbreak, which would be a significant disaster for the United States.
Graham said, “The last time ISIS was in power, thousands of Europeans and Americans were victims of attacks planned in Syria.”
He cautioned that the resurgence of ISIS would create chaos in the region and drive up global oil prices, directly impacting the U.S. economy.
While proposing the establishment of a demilitarized safe zone for Turkey, Senator Graham warned that any Turkish military action against Kurdish forces in Syria would severely jeopardize U.S. national interests.
In conclusion, Senator Graham reiterated that he is prepared, with bipartisan support, to impose sanctions on Turkey if they take military action against the Kurdish forces who were instrumental in defeating ISIS alongside the United States.
