Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a key ally of President Donald Trump, died Saturday evening at age 71, his office announced Sunday.
Lindsey Graham © Mena Today
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a key ally of President Donald Trump, died Saturday evening at age 71, his office announced Sunday.
"On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness," the statement said, adding that his family asked for privacy during "this incredibly difficult period."
First elected to the House in 1994 and to the Senate in 2002, Graham was re-elected three times and had just secured the Republican nomination for a fifth term. He chaired the Senate Budget Committee and was a staunch ally of Israel, taking a hardline stance against Hezbollah.
Trump paid tribute on Truth Social, calling Graham "one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known" and "a true American Patriot." South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster described him as "irreplaceable."
Israeli leaders also mourned his death. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "Israel has lost one of its greatest friends," while President Isaac Herzog called Graham "a beacon of moral clarity" who "stood by the people of Israel in our most difficult moments."
Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and former PM Naftali Bennett also honored him as a devoted friend of Israel.
The Israeli military said it had begun targeted strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday in response to a "Hezbollah violation", a day after the latest round of U.S.-facilitated talks between Israel and Lebanon took place in Rome.
The latest round of U.S.-facilitated talks between Israel and Lebanon began on Tuesday in Rome and will continue through Thursday, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
Iran is betting it can outlast Washington by turning the Middle East's trade routes, shipping lanes and energy infrastructure into pressure points that steadily raise the cost of confrontation, according to Gulf officials and analysts.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
