U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham: It is in the national security interest of the U.S. to continue our partnership with the SDF

Washington – On the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the territorial defeat of the ISIS Caliphate by the U.S.-led Coalition against ISIS, senator Lindsey Graham and commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces Mazloum Abdi, discussed the U.S. continued involvement and partnership in a phone call. In a Tweet message the Republican senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) commented on the call saying:

Had a great phone call with General Mazloum, leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces in Syria today.

The fight against ISIS continues. It is in our national security interests to continue to partner with the SDF who helped destroy the Caliphate….. https://t.co/1MBW7g5yKF

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) March 23, 2020

Graham added to his Tweet by saying the US must “..protect the oil from ISIS and Iran, and work toward a future political settlement favorable to the Syrian people. Concern was expressed about Russian aggression along Turkey-Syria border and potential efforts by Russia to grab oil. We must not let Russia benefit from the US fight against ISIS.”

Senator Lindsey tweeted in a reply to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who also tweeted on the occasion:

One year ago today, the Global @Coalition liberated the final patch of territory ISIS controlled in Baghouz, #Syria, ending its so-called “caliphate.” While we manage the challenges of #COVID19, we continue to work with the Coalition to finish the job of ensuring ISIS's defeat.

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) March 23, 2020