Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman visit the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on March 11, 2019. (Credit: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away on Saturday evening after a brief and sudden illness, the communications director for his office said in a post on X early on Sunday.
Graham, 71, was a prominent Republican senator from South Carolina. Earlier in his career, he was a vocal critic of U.S. President Donald Trump before becoming one of his most loyal allies on Capitol Hill.
"Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," his office added.
Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002. Before serving in the upper house, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 for South Carolina's third congressional district, according to his website.
A defense hawk, his website said he had "consistently pushed for outcomes in the War on Terror that protect our long-term national security interests."
He was a staunch advocate for Israel, and has repeatedly conditioned U.S. support for Lebanon on the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Graham recently served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Graham also served as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Graham was not married and lived in Seneca, South Carolina.
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