US Senators Graham, Blumenthal introduce Save the Kurds Act

WASHINGTON,— U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, and Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, introduced legislation Thursday aimed at safeguarding the Kurds in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) amid renewed attacks by Syrian government and allied Islamist groups.

The proposed law, called the Save the Kurds Act, would impose sanctions on Syrian government officials and financial institutions. It would also target foreign individuals who provide military or financial support to the Syrian government.

The move comes as the Syrian government army and allied armed Islamist groups launched a major offensive earlier this month to seize territory controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, in northern Syria and Syrian Kurdistan.

These territories were among those freed by Kurdish forces from the Islamic State following the extremist group’s declaration of a caliphate in Syria and Iraq in 2014.

During the U.S.-led campaign to defeat ISIS, the SDF played a critical role in reclaiming land and dismantling the caliphate. After the campaign, the SDF retained control over large portions of northeastern Syria.

More than 21,000 Kurdish fighters, both men and women, lost their lives battling ISIS and Syrian Islamist mercenary fighters backed by Turkey.

Since assuming office, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has launched operations against the Kurdish-led forces under the pretext of restoring national unity after years of civil war. Evidence suggests that some attacks on the SDF have been coordinated with Turkish authorities.

United States Capitol, Washington, 2025. Photo: Creative Commons/Natalia Falon/pexels

The SDF-controlled areas host detention facilities for ISIS fighters, guarded mainly by Kurdish forces, and approximately 1,000 U.S. troops are stationed there.

The renewed assaults on Kurdish areas endanger both regional stability and U.S. forces, and could jeopardize relations with the new Syrian government. Analysts warn that continued instability may allow ISIS to regroup.

Senator Graham emphasized the importance of protecting the Kurds, saying, “The SDF, with a large Kurdish component, carried the main burden in defeating ISIS. Attacking them undermines U.S. influence and could hinder Syria’s future stability.”

Senator Blumenthal also stressed bipartisan support for Kurdish protection. “We must ensure the Kurds are shielded from retaliation by the Syrian government,” he said.

Key provisions of the Save the Kurds Act include:

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

On the ground, Syrian government troops have completely encircled the Kurdish town of Kobane, cutting off residents’ access to water, food, and electricity. The border town is surrounded on three sides by Syrian forces, with the fourth side by Turkey.

According to monitors the humanitarian conditions in Kobane are worsening. Supplies of essential items are scarce, and the population is increasingly crowded, creating a critical situation for displaced families.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has documented widespread human rights abuses in the area, including mass killings, arbitrary arrests, sexual violence, and public release of videos showing these crimes.

U.S. lawmakers stress that protecting the Kurds is vital for national security and regional stability, warning that unchecked attacks could allow ISIS to reemerge and further threaten American interests in the region.

In December 2024, Senators Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, and Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, introduced bipartisan legislation to impose sanctions on Turkey.

These sanctions are designed to prevent further Turkish or Turkish-backed attacks on the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, which have been crucial partners in the fight against ISIS.

The “Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2024” also encourages diplomatic efforts to establish a lasting ceasefire and a demilitarized zone along the northern Syrian border.

(With files from lgraham.senate.gov | Reuters)