Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has reiterated unwavering support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish ground force partnered with the United States in the Global Coalition Against Da’esh (ISIS), amid escalating hostilities in northern Syria. With the impending inauguration on 20 January of fellow Republican Donald Trump as the next US President, Graham’s message highlights concern over the possibility of an ISIS resurgence, calling the consequences of such a scenario a “nightmare for America”.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Graham said: “There are more than 50,000 ISIS prisoners being held in northeastern Syria. If chaos in the region leads to an ISIS prison jailbreak, it would be a nightmare for America. The caliphate carried out and inspired some of the worst terrorist attacks the world has ever seen. We cannot allow ISIS to return.”
His remarks come against the backdrop of a new transitional government in Syria, put in place after the toppling of the Assad regime on 27 November by the militant group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Though intense battles rage in the north, for the first time in 54 years various opposition factions and the international community are discussing the prospects of a free, inclusive and democratic Syria.
US indirectly warns Turkey over escalating attacks on SDF-controlled areas
AANES reveals identities of ISIS fighters deployed by Turkey in SNA
However, Turkey’s opposition to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), which the SDF defends, is exacerbating tensions. Ankara, through its Syrian National Army (SNA) proxies, has launched numerous attacks on the autonomous region, jeopardising security in camps housing thousands of ISIS affiliates and prisons detaining ISIS members, risking their escape and a full-scale resurgence of the extremist group. Meanwhile, evidence is emerging of hundreds of other ex-ISIS fighters having been recruited into the SNA.
In an earlier indirect warning to Turkey, the US highlighted the destabilising impact of Turkish escalations against SDF-controlled areas. Statements from US officials underlined the critical role of the SDF in containing ISIS and maintaining regional security, in line with Graham’s statement.
Graham stressed the importance of safeguarding North and East Syria (Rojava or NES) both from external aggression and from internal chaos, highlighting the importance of a international support for the SDF and the fight against ISIS.
