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Sovereigntist Lebanese Christian leaders mourn U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham
Sovereigntist Lebanese Christian leaders mourn U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham
12/07/2026WASHINGTON / BEIRUT — Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a leading voice on American foreign policy and one of the Senate’s most influential national security advocates, died Saturday after a brief illness, according to a statement released by his office. He was 71.
“On the evening of Saturday, 11 July, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,” the statement said. His family thanked the public for their prayers and requested privacy during “this incredibly difficult period.”
Statement from the Office of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina). pic.twitter.com/CQ5yVvqTH1
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 12, 2026
Graham’s death prompted an outpouring of condolences from political figures in Lebanon, particularly among Christian sovereigntist leaders who viewed him as a steadfast supporter of Lebanon’s sovereignty and a vocal advocate for limiting the influence of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.
Among those paying tribute was Ibrahim Mrad, president of the World Syriac Union Party (USUP), who described Graham as “one of the foremost defenders of the values of freedom and democracy” and “one of the most influential figures in shaping the direction of U.S. foreign policy.
In a statement, Mrad said Graham consistently supported “a sovereign Lebanon” and defended the Lebanese state’s exclusive authority over its territory and its right to monopolize the use of arms. He also praised the late senator’s opposition to Iranian influence in the region and his commitment to the principles of national sovereignty.
“On my own behalf and on behalf of the Universal Syriac Union Party, we extend our deepest condolences to President Donald Trump, the U.S. administration, Senator Graham’s family, and the American people,” Mrad said. He also expressed appreciation for continued U.S. support for Lebanon and efforts aimed at strengthening the country’s sovereignty, stability and regional peace.
Concluding his tribute, Mrad said Graham would be remembered as “an exceptional statesman” whose unwavering commitment to his principles left a lasting legacy. “His support for a free, sovereign and independent Lebanon will remain etched in memory, and his name will continue to be associated with the defense of freedom, sovereignty and justice,” he wrote.
Dr. Amine Jules Iskandar, president of the Maronite Union – Tur Levnon (Mount Lebanon) and head of foreign relations for the Syriac Union Party (SUP) in Lebanon, also offered condolences, writing: “May your Christian message continue its mission, and may your vision of an alliance between Lebanon and the United States soon become a reality.”
RIP, Senator @LindseyGrahamSC. May your Christian message continue its mission, and may your vision of an alliance between Lebanon and the United States soon become a reality. 🇺🇸 ✝️🌲 pic.twitter.com/gPnzESlyHo
— ܬܐܘܕܪܘܣ ܒܪܝܘܠܝܘܣ ܐܠܟܣܢܕܪ Amine Bar-Julius Iskandar (@Amineiskandar2) July 12, 2026
Graham served for more than three decades in Congress. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina in 1994, he won election to the Senate in 2002, where he became one of the Republican Party’s most recognizable voices on foreign affairs and national security. Throughout his Senate career, he served on several influential committees, including Appropriations, Judiciary, and Environment and Public Works, and previously chaired the Senate Budget Committee.
Just one day before his death, Graham returned from Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He remained one of Congress’s strongest advocates for continued U.S. military and political support for Ukraine, arguing that Russia’s invasion carried implications far beyond Europe. In 2023, he warned, “Putin will not stop in Ukraine. To be weak in Ukraine means that you lose in Taiwan.”
A close ally of President Donald Trump, Graham was a prominent supporter of the administration’s foreign policy agenda, particularly efforts to counter Iran’s military and nuclear ambitions, confront the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, and reinforce Israel’s security.