U.S. Lawmakers Warn of ‘Moral and Strategic Disaster’ as Syrian Kurds Face Military Threat

Senator Lindsey Graham and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have issued urgent warnings about the deteriorating situation facing Syrian Kurdish forces, longtime U.S. allies who played a crucial role in defeating ISIS but now find themselves under attack by Syrian government forces.

In a statement on social media platform X, Graham noted “strong and growing bipartisan interest in the U.S. Senate regarding the deteriorating situation in Syria,” adding that a consensus exists “that we must protect the Kurds who were there for us in destroying the ISIS caliphate, as well as many other groups.”

Pompeo echoed these concerns, responding that “turning our backs on our Kurdish allies would be a moral and strategic disaster.”

The warnings come as Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, reportedly a former member of both ISIS and al Qaeda, has ordered his army to conquer territory controlled for more than a decade by the U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Syrian military is said to contain significant jihadist elements, raising fears of potential atrocities.

The current crisis has been compounded by what Kurdish representatives view as wavering U.S. support. The Trump administration faces criticism from Syrian Kurds following social media statements from U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who also serves as Special Envoy for Syria, suggesting the partnership with the SDF had concluded.

In his statement, Barrack indicated a significant policy shift, writing that while the Kurdish-led SDF “proved the most effective ground partner in defeating ISIS’s territorial caliphate by 2019,” the situation “has fundamentally changed.” He noted that “Syria now has an acknowledged central government that has joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, signaling a westward pivot and cooperation with the U.S. on counterterrorism.”

Kurdish political leader Ilham Ahmed expressed dismay at the U.S. position. “We really wished to see a firm position from the U.S. The Kurdish people are at the risk of extermination. The U.S. does not give any solid or tangible guarantees,” she told Fox News Digital.

Ahmed challenged Barrack’s assessment of the Syrian military, warning that it “is still consisting of radical factions that no one can trust. Alawites, Christians, Sunnis and Druze cannot trust these factions. We could face massacres, which happened in other Syrian cities.”

She also accused Turkey of involvement in the current crisis, stating, “Turkey stands behind the attacks on our region. Turkish intelligence and small groups are leading attacks. Statements from Turkey are encouraging the extermination of our people.”

The SDF was formed in 2013 as a bulwark against the Islamic State’s rapid territorial expansion across Syria and Iraq. The Kurdish-led force lost thousands of fighters in the campaign to defeat ISIS, guarded U.S. bases, and has detained thousands of ISIS fighters and family members in prisons and camps like al-Hol and al-Shaddadi.

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, expressed support for Graham’s position, writing, “It is not in America’s interest for Islamist forces to seize territory once governed by trusted U.S. allies who protected minorities and advanced religious freedom.” Perkins questioned the wisdom of trusting al-Sharaa, describing him as “a former al Qaeda insurgent who fought U.S. forces in Iraq and was held at Abu Ghraib.”

Sinam Mohamad, the Syrian Democratic Council’s representative to the U.S., characterized the situation as a betrayal. “American officials continue to describe the SDF as a reliable partner in that narrow mission. Washington avoids framing the relationship as a political alliance. The U.S. never intended a long-term political commitment to the Syrian Kurds. It was a military partnership without political guarantees. From Washington’s view, that’s consistency. From the Kurdish view, that’s betrayal.”

While a 15-day ceasefire has been announced, Mohamad noted continued Syrian government troop buildups near Kurdish-held areas, indicating that conflict could resume. “The Kurds want to have peace and stability through negotiations,” she added, suggesting that Kurdish leaders are seeking a diplomatic solution that would provide “special status for the Kurdish region” in northeastern Syria.