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Obama’s envoy visits Turkey and Syria emphasises efforts against Daesh

September 7, 2016 at 12:29 am

Brett McGurk, President Barack Obama’s special envoy for the ‘Global Coalition to Counter ISIL’ visited Turkey and Syria this weekend and with a message for US allies to refocus their efforts in the region against Daesh.

A spokesman for the State Department, Mark Toner told media on Tuesday, that his mission was “to talk to our partners on the ground who are carrying out attacks and assault on Daesh or ISIL on the ground.”

McGurk also “encouraged unity of effort and deconfliction,” according to Toner.

Obama’s envoy met discussed Turkey’s efforts in northern Syria along with broader cooperation with Turkey against Daesh. McGurk also met with US-supported Syrian opposition members, including the leaders from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Welcoming the recent liberation of Manbij, a city in the Aleppo governorate that was retaken by from Daesh forces, days ago after three months of fighting.

McGurk’s visit comes as the US seeks to reassure the Turkish government of its support, after the White house appeared to dither on supporting Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during an attempted military coup.

Turkey launched a direct military intervention into Syria in late August codenamed ‘Operation Euphrates Shield’. Thus far, however, Turkey continues to enjoy public US-support for its operation.