U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, the veteran Republican lawmaker from South Carolina and a close ally of President Donald Trump, has died at the age of 71 following what his office described as a "brief and sudden illness."
The announcement was made on Saturday evening in a statement released by the Office of Senator Lindsey Graham, which did not disclose further details about the cause of his death.
"On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness," the statement said.
His office also appealed for privacy as the family mourns his passing.
"Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," the statement added.
Graham had represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003 after being elected in 2002 and was campaigning for a fifth Senate term at the time of his death. Before joining the Senate, he served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, having first entered Congress in 1995.
Over more than three decades in Washington, Graham established himself as one of the Republican Party's most influential voices on foreign policy, national security and judicial affairs.
He was widely known for his hawkish stance on Iran, consistently supporting policies aimed at isolating Tehran and curbing its missile and nuclear programmes.
In recent years, Graham became one of President Donald Trump's closest political allies despite initially criticizing him during the 2016 Republican presidential primaries. Their relationship later evolved into a close partnership, with Graham frequently advising Trump on foreign policy, particularly on Iran and Russia.
He publicly backed Trump's decision to strike Iranian nuclear facilities last year and remained a vocal supporter of the latest military conflict involving Iran.
Just a day before his death, Graham had announced an agreement with the Trump administration to move forward with a package of sanctions targeting Russia, underscoring his continued influence in shaping Republican foreign policy.
His death comes amid growing scrutiny over the health and transparency of senior U.S. lawmakers. Recent months have seen several members of Congress face health concerns, including Senator Mitch McConnell, who was recently hospitalised for undisclosed reasons, and Representative Tom Kean Jr., who returned to Congress after revealing he had been diagnosed with depression following an extended absence.