WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today warned against the United States Senate abandoning the Kurds in Syria if the Strengthening America’s Security in Middle East Act, S. 1, moves forward without his amendment to include protections for these important allies.  Sen. Kennedy introduced an amendment to protect the Syrian Kurds Monday.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) helped reduce the number of ISIS fighters in Syria from approximately 100,000 in 2014 to less than 5,000 today.  Five years ago, ISIS controlled more than 34,000 square miles in Iraq and Syria, but American military forces with the help of SDF have retaken 99% of ISIS’s territory including its capital in Raqqa.

“Without my amendment, we may be leaving the Kurds to be slaughtered after they withstood incomprehensible suffering to fight Islamist tyranny,” said Sen. Kennedy. “It’s that simple.  I support what the bill does to protect Israel and strengthen our bond with Jordan.  But it’s a hollow boast to claim this bill protects our allies in the Middle East when it leaves out protection for the Syrian Kurds.  Even worse, we are breaking a promise to protect our allies.”

Click here or the photo below to watch Sen. Kennedy discuss his amendment on the Senate floor.

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