Lindsey Graham, a Republican U.S. senator, has voiced support for Kurdish forces in northeast Syria amid operations by the Syrian government to regain control over areas held since 2011 by the Kurdish YPG militia, an offshoot of the PKK.
Graham (R–South Carolina), together with Richard Blumenthal (D–Connecticut), introduced the Save the Kurds Act on 29 January in response to what they described as “repeated attacks by Syrian government forces on the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).”
The proposed legislation would impose sanctions on Syrian government officials and financial institutions, as well as on foreign individuals engaging in any transaction, including military or financial support, with the Syrian government.
“I believe there is strong bipartisan support for the idea of protecting the Kurds in Syria and beyond, because they have been such a reliable ally to the United States,” Graham said in a press release, adding: “To those countries or groups who believe it is open season on the Kurds in Syria without consequence, you will be sadly mistaken.”
The Save the Kurds Act authorizes sanctions against Syrian officials and institutions and grants the U.S. president the authority to suspend them upon certifying to Congress that the Syrian government has ceased all attacks on the SDF. It also includes a “snapback” provision requiring the immediate reimposition of sanctions should such attacks resume.
The Assyria Post
“Where is the Save the Assyrians Act?”
Assyrians in northeast Syria who spoke to the Assyria Post expressed frustration and disappointment over the senators’ initiative and its exclusive focus on Kurdish forces.
“The world is upside down,” said one Assyrian from the Khabur area. “Do they even know that we exist and what we have been through? Why is there never any support for us?”
Another Assyrian from Qamishli, a former member of the Sotooro force, echoed the sentiment, stating: “I wish I could bring this senator here and show him the reality on the ground,” and asking whether Assyrians or Christians are mentioned at all in the proposed legislation.
The Assyria Post
The legislative process
The Assyria Post has not been able to identify any scheduled vote on the bill. As a newly introduced act, it does not yet appear to have been assigned a bill number in public records, nor has it been formally referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where it would most likely be debated.
If passed by the Senate, the bill would proceed to the House of Representatives and then to the president for signature. Even under an expedited process, this could take several weeks.
Observers note that the PYD/YPG’s political maneuvering appears aimed at buying time, with the hope that such legislation might advance and increase pressure on the Syrian government.
Editor's note: names of individuals in Syria have been withheld due to the risk of reprisals.
