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Lindsey Graham says ‘strong consensus’ to protect Kurds as Syrian forces advance on territory
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Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo both issued dire warnings about the pressing need to protect the endangered Syrian Kurdish population under attack by government forces in the war-torn nation.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who earlier this month ordered his army, which reportedly has a large jihadist element in it, to conquer territory controlled for more than a decade by the U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF.)
Writing on the social media platform X on, Graham declared, «There is strong and growing bipartisan interest in the U.S. Senate regarding the deteriorating situation in Syria. There is strong consensus that we must protect the Kurds who were there for us in destroying the ISIS caliphate, as well as many other groups.»
Pompeo responded to Graham’s post, stating, «Turning our backs on our Kurdish allies would be a moral and strategic disaster.»
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The Trump administration is facing criticism from its long-standing ally, the Syrian Kurds, who played a crucial role in the defeat of the Islamic State in the heartland of the Middle East, following a U.S. government announcement on social media that seemed to hint that the partnership had ended this past week with the Kurdish-run SDF in northern Syria.
The SDF formed as a bulwark against the rapid spread of the Islamic State’s terrorist movement in 2013. ISIS created a caliphate covering significant territory in Syria and Iraq. Al-Sharaa was a former member of the Islamic State and al Qaeda.
Kurdish civilians gather with their weapons in the city of Qamishli on Jan. 20, 2026 as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) called for «young Kurds, men and women» both within and outside Syria to «join the ranks of the resistance». Negotiations had collapsed between the Syrian president and the chief of the country’s Kurdish-led forces, as the army deployed reinforcements to flashpoint areas in the north. (Delil Souleiman / AFP via Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department regarding U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, who also serves as the Special Envoy for Syria, for a response to his recent statement on X wrote that indicated the U.S. partnership with the SDF was over.
Barrack wrote, «The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by Kurds, proved the most effective ground partner in defeating ISIS’s territorial caliphate by 2019, detaining thousands of ISIS fighters and family members in prisons and camps like al-Hol and al-Shaddadi. At that time, there was no functioning central Syrian state to partner with — the Assad regime was weakened, contested, and not a viable partner against ISIS due to its alliances with Iran and Russia.»
He added, «Today, the situation has fundamentally changed. Syria now has an acknowledged central government that has joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (as its 90th member in late 2025), signaling a westward pivot and cooperation with the U.S. on counterterrorism.»
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters pose for a photo with the American flag on stage after a SDF victory ceremony announcing the defeat of ISIL in Baghouz was held at Omer Oil Field on March 23, 2019 in Baghouz, Syria. The Kurdish-led and American-backed Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) declared on Saturday the «100% territorial defeat» of the so-called Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. The group once controlled vast areas across Syria and Iraq and a population of up to 12 million, an aspired «caliphate» that drew tens of thousands of foreign nationals to join its ranks. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
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Iham Ahmed, a prominent Syrian Kurdish politician, told Fox News Digital that, «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.»
Ahmed cast doubt on statements like Barrack’s, warning the «Syrian army 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.»
When asked by Fox News Digital if the SDF wants Israel to intervene to aid the Kurds as it did to help the Syrian Druze and other minorities last year, Ahmed said, «Whoever wants to help us should do so – today is the day.» She said that «the Islamic State is showing itself in the image of an official army. Everyone is threatened now.»
She urged a «special status for the Kurdish region» in northeastern Syria.
Syrian government forces load rockets which will be launched towards Kurdish forces near Dibsi Faraj in the northern Syrian Tabqa area, Raqa province on Jan. 17, 2026. Syria’s army took control of swathes of northern Syria and threatened to bomb parts of Raqa province on January 17, after Kurdish forces pulled back from territory they had held for over a decade. The government appeared to be seeking to extend its grip on parts of the country under Kurdish control a day after President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a decree declaring Kurdish a «national language» and granting the minority official recognition. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images.)
Ahmed accused the Erdoğan government of nefarious involvement. «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,» she claimed.
Fox News Digital sent a press query to the Turkish embassy spokesman in Washington D.C.
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The influential president of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, wrote on X that, «Sen. Graham is right. I’ve been discussing the situation in NE Syria with Republican House leaders. 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. Yet this is happening as Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa’s forces move into northeast Syria, displacing the Syrian Democratic Forces — our partners in the fight against ISIS, who lost thousands of fighters, guarded U.S. bases, and detained ISIS prisoners.»
He continued, «Before we place trust in al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda insurgent who fought U.S. forces in Iraq and was held at Abu Ghraib, he has to show he is trustworthy. So far, he is failing the test.»
A masked Islamic State terrorist poses holding the ISIS flag in 2015. (Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Sinam Mohamad, the representative of the Syrian Democratic Council to the U.S., had harsh words for the administration, telling Fox News Digital, «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.»
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She added there has been an announcement of a 15-day extension of a ceasefire, «But both the SDF and outside observers noted continued [Syrian] government troop buildups near Kurdish-held areas, signaling that conflict could resume.» She added, «The Kurds want to have peace and stability through negotiations.»
syria,isis,terrorism,state department,turkey,conflicts,foreign policy senate
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Rubio se reúne con el primer ministro Orbán en Hungría para impulsar acuerdos energéticos y reforzar la cooperación bilateral
El secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Marco Rubio, llegó a Budapest para reunirse con el primer ministro Viktor Orbán, en el tramo final de una gira por Europa marcada por la seguridad, la guerra en Ucrania y el respaldo político de Washington al líder húngaro en plena campaña electoral.
La visita se produce antes de las elecciones legislativas del 12 de abril en Hungría, donde Orbán enfrenta un desafío relevante por parte de la oposición. Las encuestas ubican al partido gobernante Fidesz por detrás del TISZA, encabezado por el dirigente opositor Péter Magyar.
Rubio aterrizó en la capital húngara el domingo por la noche y tiene previsto mantener conversaciones este lunes por la mañana con Orbán antes de regresar a Washington. La reunión sigue a su participación en la Conferencia de Seguridad de Múnich y a su visita a Bratislava, donde se habló con el primer ministro eslovaco Robert Fico, otro dirigente nacionalista cercano a la Casa Blanca.
El presidente estadounidense Donald Trump expresó su respaldo al mandatario húngaro días antes del encuentro. En una publicación en redes sociales, destacó que Orbán logró resultados “fenomenales” en Hungría y le deseó suerte de cara a los comicios de abril.
En Budapest, Rubio y el ministro de Exteriores húngaro, Péter Szijjártó, tienen previsto firmar un acuerdo de cooperación en materia de energía nuclear. Según el jefe de comunicación internacional del Gobierno húngaro, Zoltán Kovács, en la agenda también figuran los contactos sobre Ucrania y la cooperación bilateral.
Kovács señaló que ambos dirigentes debatirán “los esfuerzos por la paz” en Ucrania y otros asuntos estratégicos. Tras el encuentro, está prevista una rueda de prensa conjunta para informar sobre el resultado de las conversaciones.
Desde Bratislava, Rubio defendió la relación con Europa y el papel de Estados Unidos dentro de la alianza atlántica. En un mensaje dirigido a los socios europeos, afirmó: “No estamos pidiendo a Europa que sea un vasallo de Estados Unidos. Queremos ser su socio. Queremos trabajar con Europa. Queremos trabajar con nuestros aliados”.
Durante su intervención en la Conferencia de Seguridad de Múnich, el secretario de Estado pidió a los países europeos que se sumen a la estrategia de Trump frente a la inmigración masiva, en un discurso que también incluyó referencias a la defensa de la civilización occidental. Al mismo tiempo, buscó transmitir calma sobre la posición estadounidense respecto de la OTAN y Groenlandia.
En Hungría, el Gobierno considera que la guerra en Ucrania será uno de los temas centrales del encuentro. El ministro Szijjártó sostuvo que “los políticos europeos intentan socavar sistemáticamente los esfuerzos de Donald Trump para lograr la paz (en Ucrania)”, según el portal independiente 444.hu.
Orbán, que gobierna con mayoría absoluta desde 2010, mantuvo un discurso duro contra sus adversarios internos y externos en un acto reciente. Allí aseguró que continuará su lucha contra “organizaciones pseudo-civiles, periodistas, jueces y políticos comprados”. También atacó a la “maquinaria opresiva de Bruselas”, en referencia a las autoridades de la Unión Europea, con las que mantiene desacuerdos desde hace años.
Los líderes comunitarios cuestionan a su Gobierno por presuntas restricciones a las voces críticas en el poder judicial, el ámbito académico, los medios y la sociedad civil, además de acusarlo de atacar a las minorías. La cercanía política con Rusia y el vínculo con el presidente Vladimir Putin aumentan la tensión con Bruselas.
Hungría mantiene una fuerte dependencia energética de Moscú. El país adquiere de Rusia el 85% del gas y el 65% del crudo que consume. Tras una visita de Orbán a la Casa Blanca en 2025, Trump concedió a Hungría una exención a las sanciones contra las importaciones de petróleo y gas rusos vinculadas a la invasión de Ucrania.
En noviembre pasado, el primer ministro anunció que su país también recibió excepciones sin límite temporal a las sanciones estadounidenses contra las petroleras rusas Rosneft y Lukoil.
Orbán se convirtió en una figura destacada para muchos simpatizantes de Trump por su postura contra la migración durante la crisis de refugiados sirios. Desde entonces, visitó varias veces el resort Mar-a-Lago en Florida y sostuvo una relación política cercana con el mandatario estadounidense.
El líder húngaro figura entre los dirigentes que viajarán a Washington la próxima semana para asistir a la reunión inaugural de la denominada “Junta de la Paz” impulsada por Trump, una iniciativa que críticos consideran diseñada para competir con el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU.
(Con información de EFE y AFP)
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Waltz calls UN a ‘cesspool for antisemitism’ as Trump administration pushes major reforms
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EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz is calling for sweeping reform at the world body, placing the fight against antisemitism at the top of the agenda as the Trump administration pushes for changes across the institution.
In an exclusive on-camera interview, Waltz argued that confronting antisemitism should be a central pillar of any overhaul of the U.N., alongside a broader return to what he described as the organization’s core mission of peace and security.
«The U.N. has an atrocious history and record when it comes to antisemitism. Number one, it’s a cesspool for antisemitism in many ways,» Waltz said. «This administration is determined to fight it.»
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U.S Ambassador to United Nations Michael Waltz speaks with Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon before a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to consider a U.S. proposal for a U.N. mandate to establish an international stabilization force in Gaza, at U.N. headquarters in New York City, Nov. 17, 2025. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
He framed the issue as both urgent and historic, linking rising global antisemitism and the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks to what he said must be a renewed commitment inside international institutions.
«We have to live up to the mantra of never again,» Waltz said. «As we see antisemitism on the rise around the world… after October 7th, in particular, we have to live up to that mantra.»
Waltz pointed to Holocaust remembrance and survivor testimony as essential tools in combating denial and historical revisionism, saying education must be central to any U.N. response.
«It’s about education. It’s about fighting back on these ridiculous denials of the Holocaust,» he said. «But most importantly, while we still have them, it’s about hearing from the survivors and hearing their personal stories.»
Memorials at the site of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im, Israel, on Monday, May 27, 2024. (Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg via Getty Images )
He added that U.N. forums should elevate survivor testimony rather than political messaging.
«My recommendation to the U.N. is, get the diplomats and the politicians out of the way, let’s just hear from the survivors because their stories are compelling, they are tragic, they need to be heard and documented, and they certainly can’t ever be denied,» Waltz said.
The ambassador’s remarks come as the administration calls for broader structural reform at the United Nations, including changes to how it approaches development aid, humanitarian operations and leadership.
WALTZ TO ROOT OUT ANTISEMITISM, ELIMINATE ‘WOKE’ PROGRAMS, GET ‘BACK TO BASICS’ AT THE UNITED NATIONS
A view of the United Nations Headquarters building in New York City, United States on July 16, 2024. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Waltz said Washington wants to see a more focused institution centered on conflict prevention and peacekeeping, with less reliance on traditional aid frameworks.
«I see, and I think what the president sees, is a much more focused U.N. that we have taken back to the basics of promoting peace and security around the world and enforcing peace when conflict breaks out through its peacekeeping forces,» he said.
The push for reform comes against the backdrop of longstanding criticism from U.S. officials and watchdog groups over how Israel is treated within the U.N. system and concerns about antisemitism linked to some U.N.-affiliated bodies.
UNRWA, the U.N. agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, has faced mounting scrutiny in recent years. Reports by education monitoring organizations documented content in materials used in UNRWA-linked classrooms that delegitimizes Israel or includes antisemitic themes.
Media investigations after Oct. 7 further intensified attention on the agency, with allegations involving staff and militant ties triggering donor freezes and internal probes.
An independent review commissioned by the United Nations acknowledged neutrality challenges and recommended stronger oversight and vetting mechanisms.
ISRAEL’S NETANYAHU DEMANDS WESTERN GOVERNMENTS ACT TO BATTLE ANTISEMITISM: ‘HEED OUR WARNINGS’
Photos released by the Israeli Defense Force show three individuals that the Israeli military claims are Hamas terrorists inside an UNRWA compound in Rafah. (IDF)
Beyond UNRWA, critics have pointed to structural patterns across the U.N. system. Israel remains the only country assigned a permanent agenda item at the U.N. Human Rights Council, mandating discussion at every session.
At the General Assembly, Israel has frequently been the subject of more country-specific resolutions than any other state in many annual sessions.
Successive U.S. administrations have described that focus as disproportionate.
U.N. officials reject the characterization of institutional antisemitism, arguing that scrutiny reflects the scale and duration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and humanitarian concerns, and pointing to reforms underway within agencies including UNRWA.
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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz raises his hand to vote in favor of a draft resolution authorizing an International Stabilization Force in Gaza on Nov. 17, 2025. (Adam Gray/Getty)
Waltz said confronting antisemitism must remain a priority as the U.N. prepares for leadership changes and debates over its future direction. He placed combating antisemitism within that broader reform push, alongside other policy priorities and future leadership decisions at the world body.
«So those are just some of the things in addition to… taking on antisemitism… getting… good, strong leadership in the U.N. going forward that we hope to get done during our time here.»
anti semitism,united nations,israel,state department,holocaust
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