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Obama names new envoy for counter-IS campaign

Xinhua, October 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday appointed a new special envoy to the U.S.-led coalition campaign fighting the Islamic State (IS) as the U.S. strategy staggered on in the war-wrecked Middle East.

Brett McGurk, an experienced diplomat and the current No. two U.S. official in the Obama administration's counter-IS campaign, was named to succeed the retiring Gen. John Allen, said Obama in a statement.

Hailing McGurk as one of his "most trusted advisers on Iraq," Obama said the administration would offer full support for McGurk as he continues broadening and deepening coalition efforts to defeat the IS.

"I have also asked him to work closely with my national security team to strengthen our partnership with Iraq and work intensively with regional partners to bring an end to the civil war in Syria," said the statement. Enditem