US Senator Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after sudden illness

• Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died on Saturday after a brief and sudden illness, his office announced.
• Graham was a prominent ally of President Donald Trump and a leading voice on US foreign policy issues, including Iran and global security.

US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham died on Saturday evening at the age of 71 following what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.”

“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” his office said in a statement.

The statement did not provide further details about the nature of his illness.

Graham, who represented South Carolina in the US Senate since 2002, was one of the Republican Party’s most influential figures on foreign policy and national security issues.

Before joining the Senate, he served in the US House of Representatives after first being elected in 1994. He was preparing to seek another Senate term at the time of his death.

Graham became a close political ally of President Donald Trump after initially competing against him for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

Trump later praised Graham as a longtime supporter and influential partner in the Senate.

The senator was known for his hardline positions on Iran, Russia, and international security issues, as well as his strong support for ‘Israel’.

Tributes from US and international political figures are expected following Graham’s death, as lawmakers reflect on the career of a senator who played a major role in Republican foreign policy debates for more than two decades.