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2026-08-01 03:04 UTC → 2026-08-03 12:35 UTC ·
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Lindsey Graham and Graham, Netanyahu, US‑Israel‑Iran conflict
Documentary footage Footage released in July 2026 from Alex Holder’s unfinished documentary showed the late Senator Lindsey Graham urging President Donald Trump to expand widen U.S. strikes from Iran into Lebanon and offering advice to Hezbollah in Lebanon. In a March 4 call, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on countering an International Criminal Court (ICC) probe. The clips, aired on CNN’s The Source with anchor Kaitlan Collins reacting in a single stunned word, also captured Graham coordinating bipartisan Senate support for a letter demanding a probe into ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan. The letter, drafted with Netanyahu weeks before the ICC’s November 2024 arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, was sent on 1 November 2024 but did not prevent the warrants issued on 21 November 2024. Khan was later removed after a harassment investigation. A March 4, 2026 call had Netanyahu warning Graham to keep focus on Iran; Graham complied and later celebrated praised the initial U.S.–Israeli strikes, expressing optimism about confidence in a swift Iranian defeat that never materialised. Graham died two days after the footage’s release; a on 11 July 2026; his tribute at Washington’s National Cathedral was attended by Trump, Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Subsequent behind‑the‑scenes clips from Alex Holder’s unfinished documentary captured Graham pressing Trump to broaden the campaign into Lebanon and discussing tactics to counter an International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation. The clips highlighted Graham’s role recordings released in rallying bipartisan Senate support for a letter demanding a probe into ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan, a move that preceded the court’s November 2024 arrest warrant for Netanyahu. A July 30 August 2026 report alleged that Graham coordinated with Netanyahu to stall those ICC arrest warrants, using alleged sexual‑misconduct accusations against Karim Khan as leverage. Recordings from 2024 show the two discussing a joint letter to confirmed the court earlier discussion between Graham and recruiting Democratic senators to back the effort. Despite the alleged interference, Netanyahu about the ICC issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Netanyahu letter and revealed Netanyahu’s remark calling former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and the scheme failed. Slovenian premier Robert Golob “the most hated European leader,” to which Golob responded publicly.