The office of US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham announced on Sunday his death at the age of 71 after a brief and sudden illness.

The office stated in a statement published on Graham's official account on platform X that the senator died on Saturday evening, noting that his family requested privacy during this period.

Graham held the seat of South Carolina in the Senate since 2003, and was one of the prominent figures of the Republican Party, known for his hardline positions on foreign policy and defense files, and his close alliance with US President Donald Trump in recent years.

Graham had appeared publicly two days before his death during a visit to Kyiv, where he discussed with Ukrainian officials sanctions on Russia and military support files.

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